THE PUBLIC MIND: WAR MEMORIAL PAYS HOMAGE TO THE PAST

To the Editor:

The word "Veteran" usual refers to someone who served in the armed forces. A Memorial to Veterans of All Wars, regardless of its location state, county, or city acknowledges the fact our country has had wars, that men and women served in those wars, that many died, some were maimed for life, hundreds wounded but recovered, and thousands were lucky to have made it back with no physical damaged but "remembers how it was."

Anthony Quale said, "To understand a man, you must know his memories. The same is true of a nation." Memorials are memories of a nation.

The War Department of the United States recognizes 10 wars: The Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, ~Korean Conflict, Vietnam Conflict, and Desert Storm. We would indeed be naive to assume that will be no "missions" or "conflicts" in the future.

The Memorial to Veterans of All Wars, now being constructed in Jackson's new Brookside Park, honors the men and women who put their life on the line, fulfilling their commitment to our country, at home, or overseas, during war time, or peace time, and, at the same time acknowledges those now active in today's armed forces. The least we can do is to say to each veteran, whether past, present and future, "Thank You. We will not forget."

To shrug off memorials as unnecessary is to deny recognition of our past. Each war, each conflict, reflected the thinking of our governing leaders at that period of time; their commitments and follies. The future is based on the past. The wise deployment of our armed forces depends on what we remember and learned from our past involvements. A Memorial to Veterans of All Wars, in war time and peace time, is a reminder to our leaders to pause and think twice before committing our men and women to the supreme sacrifice.

Gwen Winningham

Jackson