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America's patriotism endures The faces of the young men in uniform that appeared in last week's edition stand as a testament to the pride with which they served their country, and the pride their families privately nurtured over the decades that followed. Few recounted the stories of their service over those years. Instead, they put them away and took up their lives, working hard, raising families and building communities that have become the foundation of today's American society. The week before, we featured a story about the nation's women who, during World War II, left their homes and headed to the factories across the country to become part of the homefront's war effort. They built the planes and ships that, as one local official noted, "helped to save the world." Yet, when it was over, they too quietly resumed their lives. From Long Island's golden shores to the wheat fields of middle America to the west coast, these Americans responded when called to duty- and then moved on. Every Memorial Day however, they marched in parades. Year after year, their steps got slower while the crowds cheering them on at the sidelines got thinner. Soon, it became unpopular to remember and to honor them. Life had taken us in different directions. The meaning of Memorial Day became old and dusty, and for too many, it became nothing more than a day off and a chance to have a barbecue or lay out at the beach. Now, faced with another difficult war, the sacrifices these men and women made has touched another generation of Americans. They see, up close and personal, the tragedies of a new military effort, as well as the triumphs and heroism. This Memorial Day, the sidewalks were once again filled with bystanders as the the parades went by. There were cheers and gratitude for our military, and a new recognition of what they have and are doing.
Some will say it is sad that it has taken another war to revitalize these sentiments. We say it's a tribute to what we are as Americans- a peace-loving people who see a job, get it done and then move on with their lives in the hope of building a better world.
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