Grand Army of the Republic - Seneca Falls, NY 10.31.2010
Today I’d like to honor all our veterans from all our wars. I was never a member of our armed forces – I never laid it all on the line for our nation.
I respect all the men and women who have responded to their sense of duty and decided to serve their country.
The American Civil War is a good example of people who had respond to their sense of duty. They couldn’t temporize – they had to make a decision about where they stood on the issue of the southern secession. Nowadays Americans often act proud of their individual states, but in 1861 that feeling sure seemed more important, especially in the South. It was a historical thing. One theme in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was how much state power to relinquish to the federal government.
George Henry Thomas
Robert E. Lee and George Thomas were both Virginians who were also career U.S. Army – they both fought for the Americans in the Mexican War. As the Wikipedia article about Thomas points out (see above link), Lee and Thomas became close friends during the early 1850’s while they served at West Point.
When the war broke out they made different decisions. Thomas was excoriated for his decision to fight for the North. The Wikipedia article says that in response to Thomas’ decision, “his family turned his picture against the wall, destroyed his letters, and never spoke to him again”.
Lee’s decision was anguishing as shown by his resignation letter to Winfield Scott and a letter to his sister.
From Lee’s letter to his sister:
With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relative, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native State (with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed) I hope I may never be called upon to draw my sword. (as reproduced at The Civil War)
That seems so poignant to me. I’m no warrior, but I’d like to believe I’d defend my family and friends. From Lee’s perspective, if he remained in the U.S. Army he would have to attack his family and his State. I think of the Alabama Freemen who resisted a military tax before Alabama seceded, but guaranteed their fellow citizens they’d be in the fight if their state were threatened.
So, how to honor our veterans? I’ve learned more about the election of 1860. Citizens were highly engaged in the political process – there were Wide-Awakes and Little Giants. And Minute Men formed when their states seemed threatened.
For the most part I agree with U.S. Grant’s assertion in his report from Shiloh that the United States has “the best government ever devised”. I think citizen engagement is important for that to be true. It seems the blogosphere is helping with that.
I can try to listen to my sense of duty as a citizen; vote according to my knowledge and conscience.
I can breathe some pretty free air and appreciate today.
