A Memory, A Thought

Tecumseh

During my sojourn in Maryland a fortnight ago, we visited the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, which is also the capital city of the Old Line State. It struck me just how many of the country's finest once walked those grounds, studied there, and went out into the world. Some lived to ripe old age, with many children and grandchildren.

Many died in the service of their country, some were killed on 9/11.

At the Academy is a place called Memorial Hall, actually it is a place inside Bancroft Hall, the centerpiece of the Academy, home to the Brigade of Midshipmen, 4,000 fine young men and women.

Memorial Hall -

This photo of U.S. Naval Academy is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Being inside Memorial Hall was a sobering experience for me. The names of people I've read about in history books are everywhere. Even more names are of people most of us have probably never heard of, which is unfortunate as the men and women memorialized therein were some of the best this country has to offer.

Our host for our little tour of the Academy had a classmate who died on 9/11 at the Pentagon. As he fell while on active duty, his name is listed there. But there were many others I noted who had gone through the Naval Academy, performed what the Nation asked of them and then returned to civilian life. Those who were killed on that September day who once were Midshipmen are listed in Memorial Hall as well, even though they were not on active duty anymore. But their shipmates remembered them.

One name jumped out at me: Kenneth Waldie. He worked for the same company I have spent the last nineteen years at, I never met him, but he was "one of us." Until that day, standing in Memorial Hall, I had had no idea than Ken Waldie had passed through the Naval Academy, Class of 1978.

Kenneth E. Waldie, Jr. '78
May 13, 1955 - September 11, 2001
(Source)

As I said, Mr. Waldie was no longer on active when he fell, but his fellow Midshipmen had this to say -

Kenneth was not on active military duty the morning of September 11, 2001, and is therefore not included in Memorial Hall. However, we feel that this is a distinction that is simply not worth making: The attack was against all Americans, regardless of employment status, and we will honor and remember them here with all other alumni who gave the "last full measure of devotion" to their country. (Source)

If you chase that link to the Naval Academy's Virtual Memorial Wall, you can see all of those Academy graduates who gave their lives for you and I. For freedom.

In these tumultuous times, let us not forget, that we citizens of this country are all Americans, regardless of our political beliefs, color of our skin, and any of the other things which distinguish us all as individuals.

We have far more in common than the minor differences that some would use to drive a wedge between us. Remember that. Forget, and those who died, died in vain.

We don't want that. Not now.

Not ever.