Following is Governor Palin’s Memorial Day Proclamation in its entirety. Each holiday in Alaska, major or minor as well as days to honor individuals, organizations, or causes is subject to gubernatorial proclamation. These proclamations are routine tasks — they would not be considered accomplishments; therefore, this is posting is a simple news item. Blog author’s commentary follows the proclamation.
WHEREAS, Memorial Day was first observed in 1868 to remember soldiers who died in the Civil War. Since then, our nation has set aside this day each year, for the past 141 years, to honor the memory of American patriots who have fallen in service to our country; and
WHEREAS, from the soldiers’ bravery at Gettysburg to the dedicated troops serving today, our military has confronted dangers, opposed tyranny, and offered hope and opportunity to generations of Americans and those around the world; and
WHEREAS, these courageous men and women have kept the torch of freedom burning brightly by defending our liberty and upholding the promise of our democracy. In their ultimate sacrifice, we see the goodness and courage of an entire nation, and we are reminded that the blessings of freedom demand the high calling of selflessness and great sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, Alaska is blessed to be the home of many military members from all branches of service. While we mourn the loss of all of our lost heroes, we must also celebrate their heroic lives and the better world they helped to shape;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the state of Alaska, do hereby proclaim May 25, 2009 as:
Memorial Day
in Alaska, and ask all Alaskans to honor the legacy of our national heroes by remaining committed to America’s ideals and steadfast in our support of our veterans and those in uniform today. I also encourage you to remember the men and women who died selflessly defending our freedoms and American ideals.
Commentary
On Memorial Day, while we’re busy cooking the burgers and hot dogs on the grill or perhaps swimming at the beach, we should at least take a pause and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we could be free, and who served this country. That’s what this proclamation is about.
Whether you consider yourself Governor Palin’s “Number One toady, lackey, and sycophant” — to steal Curtis Sliwa’s line a.ka. a “Palin-bot” — which this author is unabashedly and proudly — or you have a seething hatred of her, or something in between, you should remember those who died so that you could express your opinion — one way or the other — about her — and about any other elected official. Memorial Day is a day we should pause, pay respects — and put politics aside.
We should remember there are still many places in the world where political protest or criticism will get you and your family tortured, jailed, killed — or most probably — all of the above. Even in supposed democracies, this goes on. Try organizing a protest against Felipe Calderón in Mexico or any of the governors of that country’s 31 states and see where it gets you — and this is our next door neighbor. This author’s wife (a US Permanent resident and citizen of Mexico) can regale you with stories of teachers jailed, tortured and killed for protesting against Ulises Ruiz Ortiz — governor of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
For those of you who are anti-war or maybe disagree with a particular war, Memorial Day is a good day to remember that evil only survives when good people do nothing; evil thrives when good people see something wrong and look the other way. From Lexington and Concord to the shores of Tripoli to places like Gettysburg, and Antietam, Normandy, Iwo Jima, the 38th Parallel, Hanoi, Saigon, Baghdad, and Khandahar — our people fell so we could be free, and so that evil and tyranny (fascism, communism, and Islamic jihad in its various forms) would be extinguished, unions would be preserved, and slavery — one of the ugliest of evils — be abolished.
We as a nation must always stand up and do the right thing. Sometimes standing up and doing the right thing means taking up arms fighting — and paying the ultimate price.
References
Memorial Day. (2009, May 11). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved May 24, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/proclamations.php?id=1841.
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