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Published May 21, 2009, 01:13 AM

Memorial Day: Remember those who gave the supreme sacrifice

The American flag flies everywhere in the USA on Memorial Day. In the shadow of the flag, you can visualize a comforting and secure nation provided by many, many military personnel who gave the supreme sacrifice

By: By Richard Peulen, Hudson Star-Observer

The American flag flies everywhere in the USA on Memorial Day.

In the shadow of the flag, you can visualize a comforting and secure nation provided by many, many military personnel who gave the supreme sacrifice.

This Memorial Day, as you quietly listen to the bugle play taps, think of the war action that took sons, daughters and family members from us. They deserve our thanks.

My first island landing in World War II was on Leyte, Philippines. I can only describe it as very startling in the purest form of the definition: causing a momentary freight, surprise, and astonishment.

Loaded trucks passed us with many dead soldiers headed toward the sea. We could only see the shoes of the bodies in the trucks as we hurried to our assignment areas.

This was on the Palo River beach where General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore from his landing craft.

During my other landings on Luzon and Okinawa the preparation and respect of our deceased was very polished and professional.

I encourage you to take in the quiet, comfort under an American flag this Memorial Day and ponder!

(Editor’s note: Richard Peulen is a U.S. Army veteran of World War II who lives in Hudson. He won awards for his essay submissions to the Minneapolis Veterans Creative Art Show in 2008.)

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