Memorial Day – The Enduring Significance | Editorial

LTC Brian L. Mason, Retired shares his thoughts about Memorial Day which he believes is a call to live lives worthy of the sacrifices made by so many

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Contributed commentary by LTC Brian L. Mason, U.S. Army, Retired

As a recently retired soldier who served during the Cold War, fought in the Gulf War, and in the Global War on Terror, Memorial Day holds profound and deeply personal significance. We often hear how it should be more than a day of barbecues, sales, and the unofficial start of summer. Service members look forward to celebrating those opportunities on a well-deserved 4-day weekend. However, for those who have worn the uniform and faced the austerity of combat, Memorial Day is also a cherished time of reflection, mourning, and reverence.

During the Cold War, our mission was one of vigilance and deterrence. Though the battles were largely ideological and geopolitical, the threat was real, and so was the sacrifice. We lost comrades to training accidents, espionage operations, and the constant stress of a potential nuclear conflict. Memorial Day can be a reminder of the silent warriors whose contributions were never publicly acknowledged, yet whose sacrifices were integral to maintaining global stability. The same can be said for the unsung heroes of the Vietnam War, whose return was undignified and still only modestly recognized.

The Gulf War (1990-1991) presented a different type of challenge. The rapid and intense nature of mobilization, deployment, and operations during Desert Shield / Desert Storm showcased the might of modern military technology, while also reminding us of the brutal realities of war. Friends and fellow soldiers fell in the sands of Kuwait and Iraq, and their memories are etched into our hearts. On Memorial Day, we remember their courage and honor the void left in their families and units. Their sacrifices ensured a swift victory and underscored the cost of defending freedom.

The Global War on Terror, however, has been the most enduring and personal conflict of my career. Through the desert again and onto the streets of Baghdad, the fight against terrorism has been long and grueling. We have lost many brave men and women to this protracted struggle, and the scars of these losses are ever-present. Memorial Day for us is a solemn occasion to honor those who gave their lives in the fight against despotism and extremism. It is a day to acknowledge the profound grief of their families and to renew our commitment to the ideals they died defending.

Throughout these conflicts, the thread that binds us is the brotherhood and sisterhood connected by war. The loss of a fellow soldier is not just a loss to the military, but a personal loss to each of us who have shared the hardships and dangers of service. Memorial Day is our collective moment to pause, remember, and pay tribute to our fallen friends who stood beside us in the most harrowing of circumstances, as well as those whose deaths occurred even after a career or perhaps due to some exposure in a war zone.

This Memorial Day, let us reflect on and support the living, as well as our fallen. I am reminded of Terah Smallwood Redman, her husband Jon, and the family. I served as the Casualty Notification Officer when their brother and uncle Sgt. Eric Smallwood was killed in Iraq on May 26th, 2007. We mourn again as Terah’s surviving brother J.T. Smallwood passed in 2019 due to seizures caused by a service disability. The sadness and grief are so profound that words are quickly overcome by tears. The cost to this family and the many others who have lost their loved ones in service is heart-wrenching.

Memorial Day serves as a reminder of the price of liberty. Each name etched on a memorial wall and each grave marker adorned with a flag, represents a story of bravery and a life cut short in the service of our nation. It is a day to reflect on the true cost of our freedoms and to ensure that the sacrifices of our comrades are never forgotten.

For those who have served, Memorial Day is another occasion adorned with memories of camaraderie and loss, of duty and sacrifice. It is a day to honor those who gave their all and to renew our commitment to the values for which they fought. As we gather with loved ones and partake in the rituals of the day, we hold close to the memories of our fallen brothers and sisters, knowing that their legacy endures in our hearts and the continued pursuit of peace and justice.

In remembering them, we find strength and resolve. In honoring their sacrifice, we reaffirm the enduring principles of service and patriotism. Memorial Day is not just a day of remembrance; it is a call to live lives worthy of the sacrifices made by so many. It is a solemn promise that we will never forget.

Thoughts about Brian Mason from Trey Stafford, President/General Manager of the Jonesboro Radio Group

I wouldn’t know Brian Mason if not for his career of service to my country. I met Brian during our coverage of the first wartime deployment of the Arkansas Army National Guard I had seen in my lifetime. As I dealt with Brian and his colleagues through that deployment, and the deployments that followed, he showed me personally what military service, patriotism, loyalty and dedication was all about. I have been a fan of Brian Mason’s from the first time we met.

When I thought of someone to write a piece about Memorial Day, Brian was the first name that came to my mind. I knew what he wrote would be perfect, and as you can see, it was. I told Brian I wanted him to write and tell our readers a little bit about him. And what he wrote to do just that are words that only Brian could write.

Brian, thank you for your service, and your friendship, and for sharing your thoughts about Memorial Day.

Consider attending the Craighead County 2024 Memorial Day Program at 0900 hrs (9am), Monday, May 27 at the front steps and veteran’s monument of the Craighead County Courthouse at 511 Union Street.

Who is LTC Brian L. Mason, U.S. Army, Retired?

“I’m just a guy who served. I was fortunate to be an enlisted medic, mechanic, as well as an engineer officer, anti-terrorism officer, and public affairs officer on both active duty and in the National Guard. As you well know, I served full-time as the Training Officer and Administrative Officer for the 875^th Engineer Battalion here in Jonesboro before becoming the Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State ROTC.

I retired in 2022 with 26 years of active service in the U.S. Army (36 total). I served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and again in Iraq during the early years of Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning the Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, Legion of Merit Medal, and Bronze Star Medal, among many other awards.

I’m proud of my family’s legacy of service.

I met my wife, Loretta while stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado (she was a better soldier than me, by far), and one of our sons is currently a special operations civil affairs officer in the Middle East. He is a twin, one of four children we love to brag about. Our daughter is working here in Jonesboro as a science & math teacher, another son is a doctor at UAMS, and our youngest is a budding IT specialist.”