Below is a rendition of Major Sullivan Ballou’s last letter to his wife before he was killed in the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. It captures the loss that we must feel as we visit the graves of the fallen on this Memorial Day. As we walk among the headstones, we realize that war took another brother, son, father, daughter, but not for nothing. It’s a sad commentary on humanity that war has been necessary to stop the worst of our fellow man. Someone must step forward to block them. These graves are of those who did, at the cost of their future years.
Please remember, please commemorate, and please view Sullivan’s last letter home.
RogerG