Recently, I attended the VFW Post 137 (Veterans of Foreign Wars) renaming dedication ceremony for my Post in Duluth. Two Posts, Dupre-Alexander VFW 137 and Fox-Sutherland VFW Post 6320, were combining. The newly named Post is now the McConnell-Modeen VFW Post 137.
The formerly named Posts were named in remembrance of veterans who died in WWI. Thenew Post was named in remembrance of Specialist Daniel McConnell, U.S. Army, who died on November 16, 2004 in Kirkuk, Iraq and Lance Corporal Scott Modeen, U.S. Marine Corps, who was killed December 1, 2005 in Fallujah, Iraq.
Family, friends, fellow veterans, and those there just to show their respect and recognition of the two individuals’ sacrifice attended. Obviously, there were many tearful eyes, but also smiles and laughs as the room remembered the joyful part of life for the two. One of the soldier’s former commanders noted that each day he dedicated himself to living life to the fullest in recognition of the preciousness of life and the memory of his fallen comrade.
I was struck with the thought that while the names of the fallen may change, just as VFW Post 137’s name had changed, one fact doesn’t change: freedom isn’t free. Never was. Never will be.
Memorial Day is the time to remember those fallen service members who have made the greatest sacrifice to our country. I’m not such a Pollyanna as to be unaware that much of Memorial Day has evolved into Memorial Weekend, an opportunity for a little extra time for fishing, golfing, home projects, etc. I’ll be honest. I’ll get some of those activities in myself.
While I hope that all participate in a remembrance ceremony on Memorial Day, could we at least challenge ourselves to take a moment to remember? If you are in that boat fishing with your son or daughter, tell them there is probably someone else that would like to be out fishing that day. Explain why they will never be able to again cast that lure.
On Memorial Day, I’ll be giving some remarks at a small cemetery up North. Please join me this Memorial Day in honoring those who have sacrificed so much for this great country.
Chris Dahlberg
Duluth, MN
Dahlberg, a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves JAG, has 22
years of military service, including one tour in Iraq.
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