Memorial Day 2021

While normally reserved as a day in remembrance of those members of our military who sacrificed their lives in the defense of our nation, this year's Memorial Day had a slightly different tone as it happened to fall on the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Thus, this was also a day of remembrance for those Black Americans who lost their lives in this unconscionable racist attack on their prosperous neighborhood. I say a day of remembrance, because the Tulsa Race Massacre was a momentous event from our history that was long ignored, deliberately so. In fact, legislation has been presented in many states just this year to continue to keep incidents like the Tulsa Race Massacre out of historical mention--some of the laws going so far as to penalize teachers who bring it (or other elements of racism) up.

I have the utmost respect for the members of our military, and I cherish the memory of those who laid down their lives to help preserve the freedoms that this country provides. I also have the deepest respect for the many people throughout our history whose lives were lost here on our shores in the attempt to claim America's freedoms for those whose freedoms were denied. Many of them go unrecognized and unknown with no tomb or memorial to mark their deeds or even their passing, yet we owe such a great debt to them.

This was a significant Memorial Day. May our remembrance of these sacrifices help ensure that their struggles were not in vain.