World War II airmen set an example for everyone
Every year the United States sets aside one day to honor and remember those who have died serving in the Armed Forces. Businesses close down, flags are raised, services are held. Valiant acts are recalled. Heroic deeds celebrated.
These men and women are championed as they rightly should be for fighting for our freedom and paying with the cost of their lives. I do believe that on Memorial Day we should pay tribute to these heroes and reflect on their sacrifice.
However, I would also propose that this be a day where we think about ourselves. Narcissistic, right? Perhaps at first glance this notion may seem a bit self-absorbed, but please hear me out.
The boys of the mighty Eighth Air Force during World War II were ordinary fellows with an extraordinary assignment. They were required to undertake 25 flight missions before their stints were finished.
The average life expectancy was only six to eight of these missions. They had a one-in-three chance of surviving all 25. As they prepared for take-off each time, they understood the fact that this mission very definitely could be their last. They would be five miles high with no place to hide in the open skies. Yet, they did not run. They did not hesitate. They simply did what they had to do.
Yes, there are stories of men getting physically sick from fear before each trip, but that is what makes their contribution so meaningful. It may seem easy to be brave when you’re scared, but you could also rightly say that doing something that terrifies you takes an awful lot of courage.
The guys of the Eighth Air Force were ordinary men who came from all walks of life. What did they have in common? They used what they had to do what they could. This Memorial Day, we should look introspectively and analyze ourselves in this regard.
Do we utilize the talents that we possess to effect positive change in our work place, in our city, in our country? We could do better, and we should do better. When we stand silent about issues that truly matter and embrace complacency rather than action, we are culprits of misusing the freedom and the rights that have only been granted to us at the high price of human life.
Our lives are not in danger, nor have we been called away from our homeland and family, so there is no excuse. We must use what we have to do what we can — just as the men and women who we are honoring today did for us.
How should we go about this? Well, it could start with writing just a simple letter to the editor, but I digress...
McKenzie Hemp, of Columbia Falls, is a senior at Stillwater Christian School