MEMORIAL DAY, in case you thought it was national BBQ Day.
The photo I chose was one that was going around the internet as a meme, over the past several years around Memorial Day. How can we as humans, turn someone’s obvious grief and private pain into a meme for the entire world to view?
Today, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and various other social media sites give everyone the chance to represent themselves and to turn that image into exhibition. This is part of a progression by which “visual culture” is giving way what Mirzoeff calls “visual activism”, but this meme is not a great representation of either. How powerful would it be to have one person from every fallen hero’s family lying across their grave for a photo. It would be an enormous…show more content… It seems to put more focus on the widow, her dress and the markers blend perfectly; while in turn it seems to take away the distractions of the cars, people and balloons in the background.
Most Americans have not experienced the horror of losing a friend or loved one in war. However, there’s a thing with using tragedy to make a point. A cheap shot at Memorial Day festivities serves no one. It doesn’t do anything to actually help or honor veterans or fallen soldiers. If someone wants to help, thank a veteran for their service. Thank every veteran you meet friends or strangers, for their sacrifices and work for our freedom and country.
This paper is dedicated to my friend Army Sgt. Jacob H. Demand. He died September 14, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was 29, of Palouse, Washington and was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington. He was killed when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces in Mosul, Iraq. Jacob was stop lost in the Army and sent to Iraq when he was supposed to be home for good in October of that 2004. The grief I witnessed at his funeral was something I never want to see again. Rest in Piece Jake you are missed every
