A pair of combat boots sitting on the wall around the Johnson County Courthouse lawn gives special meaning to Memorial Day.
Submitted photo by Tom Soloman
To the Editor:
Veteran’s Day weekend I stopped by the courthouse square. I wanted to get a picture to use in my post to remind people about the performance that was to happen that Monday. A picture of the rows of crosses on the courthouse lawn helps convey the sense of solemnity that I think Memorial Day demands. I had gotten a few pictures and was looking at the overall scene … the crosses, the flags, the memorial. And then I looked along the retaining wall along the north side of the lawn and saw these boots. That brought me up short.
Over the last few days, I’ve seen Memorial Day sales, Memorial Day pool openings, Memorial Day monster movie marathons, and a wide variety of other Memorial Day-themed “things.” All these things go along with Memorial Day being sort of an official start to summer. That’s fine. I grew up with Memorial Day picnics and family get-togethers. But it’s not what Memorial Day is about.
Memorial Day is a day set aside to honor those who have died in our nation’s wars. The fundamental purpose of Memorial Day should bring you up short. There is something about the boots that takes the concept of the holiday out of the abstract and makes it personal. The crosses and the names do that, of course; but to some extent, I think people can become immune to the impact of symbols that they see so regularly.
Speaking only for myself, I know that seeing the pair of boots was jarring. It took me out of the standard somewhat solemn, but also somewhat smoothed and sanitized, reverie from being in front of the rows of crosses. The boots were jarring. They were rough. They were personal, even though there was no name on them. They reminded me that this is not a holiday of picnics and parties. Those things aren’t bad, but they are ancillary. They aren’t why we have Memorial Day. I think Memorial Day is to remind us of empty chairs and futures cut short and groups of comrades that will never be complete again.
Memorial Day is about a pair of empty boots.
I’m proud the Franklin Community Band had a role in celebrating that meaning this year. Next year, I hope everyone enjoys Memorial Day picnics and family parties, but takes time to give a thought to the empty boots.
Tom Solomon
Franklin
