Welcome to the Memorial Day edition of Makes-Me-Smile Monday. I learned intriguing things while googling today. I wanted to write something about the mothers of soldiers, so of course I thought of Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to Mrs. Bixby, which served as the inspiration for Saving Private Ryan. Apparently, only two of Mrs. Bixby’s sons died in battle. A third defected, another was honorably discharged, and it’s uncertain what happened to the fifth.
Mrs. Bixby herself burned the letter because she was a Confederate sympathizer. (Where have I been?). Possibly the letter was written by John Hay (one of Lincoln’s secretaries — what, they have speechwriters?). So that’s not such a great example of the influence mothers have on their children.
My other example was a battalion of soldiers engaged in their first combat mission. In modern terms, they had very little training, primitive weapons and body armor, and not much of a defense spending bill; their parents were (supportive) pacifists. They were courageous, young, active, valiant, strong, sober, and “true at all times.” Have you read the book (or seen the movie) Jarhead? I’m thinking basically the opposite here.
These soldiers made a vow to protect their land and to never give up their liberty. Their leader asked if they were ready to go to battle. They were: they thought more of their fathers’ liberty than their own lives. Why? Because their mothers had taught them that if they had faith, God would deliver them. After the battle, the leader of the 2000 soldiers was overjoyed to find that not one had died. The leader relates this outcome to the general, and emphasizes that it was their mothers’ teachings that gave them courage.
I love a good war movie. I just have to be prepared to remind Dick afterwards that a) the army probably doesn’t need too many technical writers, and b) it’s probably not as exciting as it looks; also, he could die. But just as I hope to live with more purpose (starting tomorrow!), it would probably be easier to face death knowing that my sacrifice would help secure the lives and freedoms of people I loved.
Memorial Day also makes me think about Aunt Jodi, but I’ll wait and see if Marcy or Suzie writes about her. I hope you?ve thought of a story (on anything remotely connected to Memorial Day; I’m flexible, really). To participate in the carnival, enter your name and (description) and post address so we can all come read it. Or leave it in a comment. If you do have a blog, link back, eh? If you need any help, please send me an email or a comment.
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Thanks for the compliment you left me! Oh, I also enjoy war movies. I have a tendency to overromanticize war, though, when it comes to literature, film and pretty much anything creative.
Since I might not be posting my own MMSM, I’ll add some thoughts here. I love the example you used here. If all people only went to war to protect themselves, obviously we wouldn’t have many. I am not alluding to any specific example here, but I do think God watches over people who follow him, even if they are engaged in war. We know through scripture that America is a special land, and that the people will prosper and be protected as long as they keep the commandments. I often wonder what is in store for this great land as we see it become more and more wicked. But I am very thankful for the men & women who are willing to serve in the military and fight if necessary to keep us free.
I’m not generally huge on war movies but I did like Black Hawk Down, We Were Soldiers, Pearl Harbor, and I’m sure I’ll remember others. I’m very interested in WWII and our grandparents’ generation.
Hi Everyone,
thanks for participating in MMSM! i hope you get as much out of writing your posts as I do in reading them. sometimes i get narrow in my thinking–but there are so many different things to think about and so many different ways to think about them. thanks for sharing with me!
on war movies, I really liked the thin red line. it came out the same summer as saving private ryan, and kinda was overshadowed by that one. i also liked behind enemy lines, though it’s maybe not technically war (but definitely military). has anyone seen the clint eastwood iwo jima movies that just came out? i’m really interested in those and in how he told it from both sides. (haven’t seen them yet).
Hey Shannon. Sorry I didn’t participate in this weeks MMSM. We went out of town to Lake City to see Ryan’s brother and family on Sunday night. We didn’t get home until after midnight on Monday night, so I didn’t get any time to post about it. But to relate my trip to Memorial Day…my brother in law that we were visiting has only been back from Iraq for three weeks and I got to see all of his pictures from his nine-month tour. Some pictures were totally disturbing, but overall it made me appreciate all the men and women that are serving over there and the sacrifices that they make in being away from their families.
It was such a relief when he came home. Whenever we would hear about a roadside bomb or convoy being attacked, we totally worried about Joc because he was the gunner on the convoy. Anyway, good topic, and sorry I didn’t post!
no problem Danielle. i hope you can post next time–it’ll be a lighter topic.
glad you got to see Joc; i can imagine what a relief it is. my brother just joined the air force.