It is the Soldier who allows this 2013 Memorial Day opinion

"It is a day when we set aside political, religious, geographic, race and class differences to honor one of the few things that we all have in common," he said, six months before his untimely death. "The sad part of this is that as the years pass, the day is observed by fewer and fewer Americans."

I'd like to think that Bill would have been pleased with today's attendance for Memorial Day services in Highland County, particularly among the younger folks.

A fair number of youngsters attended the observances and parades in Salem and Clay townships this morning.

After arriving in Buford this morning, only to see local publisher and editor Mr. Steve Roush with camera in hand, I exchanged a few pleasantries with several friends and then headed north on Route 134 to downtown Harwood and made a quick right turn on Route 131, driving east to Pricetown.

The first person I spoke to in Pricetown was a young man in uniform. He was not in a soldier's uniform, however. He was representing the Highland County Sheriff's Office. (And, he was not Sheriff Ron Ward, although he has the same initials.)

I hope HCSO Officer Richard Warner will forgive me and understand that even my trifocals might not be sufficient for my lifelong eyesight (or lack thereof) condition. Yes, as Mr. Warner led the parade from the cemetery to the Pricetown Church of Christ in his HCSO cruiser, I admit that I did wave and say a friendly, "Good morning, Ron." (As in Ron Ward.)

Oops. Sorry, Richard.

But as I was saying, there were good reasons for community optimism on this Memorial Day 2013.

Buford Memorial Day speaker and former Marine Bob Hottle noted: "It is especially good to see so many young people here today. Young people, we’ve got a precious heritage, but it only takes one generation to lose it.”

Bob's right.

And part of Bill Horne's message from years past is quite similar.

Special ceremonies for Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Independence Day should not be reserved for the 40-and-older citizens.

In fact, if our great experiment of a self-governing republic (our government form is, indeed, a republic – if we can keep it) is to continue, it is up to the younger generations to take the political and governmental leadership reins.

This is your government. Take ownership of it. The sooner, the better.

As Mr. Hottle put it today: "In America, we have a precious heritage, but that has been largely forgotten. Some of the Communist writers would tell you that the first thing to do to liquidate a nation is to make that nation, the people of it, forget their past. We are here today to remember."

We'd better remember, too. Not just today, either; but on all days.

We better remember that, in the words published by Charles Province:

It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Mr. Hottle said today that the country needs to get back to the values that were put in place when the nation was founded.

Remembering the sacrifices of our military men and women and their families would be a good place to start.

"Long ago, it was said a nation that forgets those who served it will not be a great nation any longer," Disabled American Veterans Commander Gary Smaltz said at the uptown Hillsboro Memorial Day observance. "That was spoken by General George Washington.

"Let us this day never forget those who have served our country."

Amen.

Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press. (With special thanks to Caitlin Ryan, Steve Roush and Angela Matticks for today's HCP Memorial Day coverage.)