After their work and sacrifice, what would our forefathers and fallen heroes think of us on this Memorial Day?
As Memorial Day arrives, Americans pause to honor the men and women who gave their lives in defense of our nation. We place flags, visit gravesites, and offer solemn tributes. But this day of remembrance should prompt more than ceremonial gestures — it should compel us to reflect more deeply. What would our fallen soldiers — and the Founding Fathers who charted our nation’s course — think of the country they died to build and preserve?
Would they even recognize America today?
Imagine their reaction to a political landscape where high offices are won not through merit or a commitment to public service, but through loyalty to a single figure or the size of a campaign check. The Founders envisioned a government led by principled, capable public servants. To see unqualified nominees elevated to powerful positions would surely leave them dismayed — shaking their powdered wigs at what’s become of our institutions.
Today, political corruption isn’t whispered behind closed doors. It’s livestreamed, tweeted, and shamelessly paraded in broad daylight. From self-dealing and blatant conflicts of interest to pay-to-play schemes, the erosion of ethical leadership betrays the ideals for which so many have died: a just, principled republic governed by laws — not by personal ambition.
Take, for example, Donald Trump’s proposed $92 million military parade. At a time when American families are grappling with inflation, housing insecurity, skyrocketing groceries, and crumbling infrastructure, we’re expected to accept this spectacle as a patriotic gesture. Even more jarring is its promotion alongside Trump’s so-called DOGE initiative to “cut government waste.” The contradiction is staggering.
Then consider the $400 million luxury jet from Qatar to Trump as a replacement for Air Force One. Now this gift has reportedly been accepted, it’s said it will take $700 million to upgrade to U.S. specifications — all while DOGE is supposedly saving money.
What a gross illustration of misplaced priorities and dangerous entanglements. A five-time draft dodger potentially accepting extravagant gifts from foreign powers while slashing veterans’ benefits at home isn’t just offensive — it’s alarming. What would our forefathers say to that?
Let’s call it what it is: not patriotism, but pageantry — and peril.
The Founders warned against tyranny, idol worship, and the rise of demagogues who place personal ambition above the common good. In fact, Alexander Hamilton, in a 1792 letter, warned that a populist demagogue — “unprincipled in private life,” “bold in their temper,” and known to “scoff in private at the principles of liberty” — could manipulate public fear and chaos to usher in authoritarian rule. His words weren’t hypothetical; they were a blueprint of exactly what they feared.
Our fallen soldiers did not die for one man’s ego. They died for the promise of a nation ruled by laws, led by accountable leaders, and dedicated to justice.
Memorial Day must be more than a moment of quiet reflection. It should be a civic reckoning. To truly honor those who gave everything, we must recommit ourselves to the principles they fought for: competence over cronyism, justice over personal gain, and a government that serves all — not just the privileged few.
Real patriotism isn’t loud. It isn’t performative. It doesn’t wear a red hat or demand a parade. Real patriotism is quiet, enduring, and loyal to the truth — even when that truth is uncomfortable.
Laura Armstrong of Rapid City is a speech language pathologist who owns a small private clinic. She served two consecutive terms on the Rapid City Common Council (2017-2023) twice as council president, and remains dedicated to the Rapid City community.
Photo: American military cemetery, Normandy, France. Public domain, wikimedia commons
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