MEMORIAL DAY: “The pain of remembering lost buddies whom we
might have saved from death – or who saved us from death by their
actions – will always be with us. Even surviving carries its own
kind of pain, as I’m sure those we’re memorializing today could
have told us, as well as their spouses who have shared a half
century of that pain.”

The conclusion today of a poignant speech given in 1996 by Jerry
Alexis of Beaver Falls, a retired Lutheran minister who served in
World War II. In fact, he was captured by the Germans just before
the Battle of the Bulge.

His brother, Roger Alexis of Bradford, passed along these
remarks made during a memorial service of the 110th Infantry
Reunion. They certainly bear repeating as we prepare for Memorial
Day on Monday.

He continued, “So, what is worth remembering about war?”

“Quite simply the only thing worth remembering are the warriors
– those men and women who stood up and answered a call that others
might not have heard and which they themselves might not have
understood.

“They – we – were not children of privilege. We had none of the
safe sanctuaries that sheltered more fortunate sons and daughters.
We came out of open fields and open hearths, from schools and
stores and mines and offices.

“We grumbled the gripes of soldiers of every century. But when
it came time to put our butts on the line, we did. We served, we
sacrificed. We suffered.

“Sometimes – too often in the 28th Division and particularly in
our regiment – some of us died. They died not for glory; not for
the flag nor apple pie nor a Chevrolet; not for wealth or wisdom,
nor a cushioned seat in the kingdom of heaven. They died for what
soldiers have always died – they died for each other. They died in
an act of love that will outlast our frail bodies, but must survive
in our collective consciousness.

“Today, in addition to our buddies who died in battle, we’re
remembering those whose death we’ve learned of since our last
reunion. In many cases, they’re casualties of war, just as surely
as those who died in combat. When we remember war, we remember who
we are, what we did, and most importantly, how much we love each
other.”