Memorial Day and its observance have never been more critical than today — critical in that we as a nation are losing sight of what the day means, what it took to become the world military power we are and why understanding our history is critical to our survival as a nation.

Our history as a nation, however troubled, is important.

It’s been a few years since the last Memorial Day event I coordinated for my home of Cuba. It was truly a community event. The capacity of the park was tested with everything from civic to patriotic organizations, schools and service clubs, all well represented.

Arthur G. Austin Jr.

One of my favorite memories was the idea of a Bicycle Brigade, brought to me by one of the civic leaders who recalled the nostalgia of times gone by.

I was able, with the help of a couple of church groups along with a couple key teachers, to bring back the nostalgic vibrance of decorated bikes during the parade. Also memorable to me — and one that I see as being most important — was getting youth groups, our future leaders, involved. From Scouts of America to musical groups and the high school band, young people participated that day, recognizing those who served and sacrificed, celebrating their lives and service.

I turned over the reins of continuing the event to others in the community. Some were critics, others were just patriotic people looking to get involved. Regardless, I enjoyed having set the pace before joining other communities and organizations in their celebrations of the day.

NOW, WITH THE announcement from our current administration in Washington D.C., I’m wondering if  Memorial Day will somehow be diminished as May 8 and Nov. 11 will now become celebrations beyond Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Our president proclaimed that a new celebration was to begin on May 8 of this year, proclaiming it will now be known as “Victory Day for World War II.” He added that Nov. 11, Veterans Day, already celebrated nationwide, will now also be celebrated as “Victory Day for World War I.”

If there is anything that we have learned in dealing with the current administration, it is to listen to what is being said or, more importantly, listening to what is not being said. There is a litany of rumored and alleged comments concerning the president and military service centered on the concept that America likes winners; however, as with anything, actions speak louder than words. Facts are still facts and opinions are just that … opinions.

Victory in Europe Day (May 8, 1945) marks the surrender of Germany. However, the Battle of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, didn’t end until June 22, 1945. The fighting in Okinawa claimed the lives of more than 12,000 U.S. service members. What is at the basis of this new proclamation fuels the fire of what we have heard in the past few years concerning winners versus losers.

The administration seems to be leaning toward the idea and concept that those who fought in the Korean War, Vietnam and Afghanistan are somehow less. Just to be perfectly clear, ALL veterans who survived the horrors of battle are winners. Nothing can prepare the human brain for the outright terror of warfare.

Military doctrine, practices, procedures and our collective history are important. There is no partisanship, no red versus blue. We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Memorial Day is just one part of that honor of service.

On Memorial Day, we pause to remember fellow service members, mentors, battle buddies and others with whom we have served who either gave the ultimate sacrifice during their service or succumbed to their injuries later. Others passed on after serving this country in one of our branches of service.

I have participated in many memorial services during my active military service. It is part of our military heritage. I’m not sure where this administration is headed with these additional proclamations. I still can’t shake listening to someone close to me who worked for the federal government. In the now infamous “fork in the road” federal email debacle they were asked to list what their department did for “brown people.”

IN EVERYTHING LATELY there seems to be an undercurrent of speculation of a lack of qualification. Somehow our service members dead or alive who are of certain gender or skin color have come under attack. The attempt at rewriting history is becoming normalized. The battle cry of late calls for Dedicated Educated Individuals (DEI) to be removed, erased or otherwise placed under suspicion concerning their qualifications and service. Along with this, it has now turned into what could be construed as attacks on observances like Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

According to a 2023 census, celebrating only the veterans of WWI and WWII would see 99% of living veterans excluded — just 66,000 of WWII veterans remain out of the 15.8 million American veterans. In the past few years, I have gotten to know, record the service of, and appreciate many of the WWII veterans, both men and women. Conversations with them have helped cement the importance of Memorial Day.

On a different note, I was recently asked about the qualifications it takes to become a general officer in the Army. At the base of this question lay the problem at hand. The common citizen doesn’t understand the makeup or requirements of our military. Now, with grossly underqualified individuals heading federal agencies, especially our military, new realities are coming into play.

With the removal of Confederate statues on one side, and now the removal of anything considered DEI from the other, second- and third-order effects are being put into motion that we as a nation may never recover from. We need to understand our history, our real history, or we may fall victim to repeating the ills of it. As I have often said, you need to tell your story; if you don’t, somebody else will … and you probably won’t like their rendition.

All branches of service have levels of requirements that must be met before promotion. If anything, the requirements have grown significantly since WWII. Memorial Day honors those who paid the ultimate sacrifice of having died during service to this country.

As with each Memorial Day, on which I am given the privilege to write articles in association with Memorial Day, I ask that you remember, tell your story, ask questions of your service members, learn about their individual service.

Memorial Day is important, let this not be the last.

(Retired U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. Arthur G. Austin Jr. lives in Cuba and is an advocate for veterans throughout the Twin Tiers.)