Memorial Day 2021

I took this photo about three years ago on Independence Day at the US Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Growing up in the D.C. area we called this statue the Iwo Jima memorial to commemorate the World War II battle on a Japanese island. Today we celebrate all the people in the military who sacrificed their lives fighting for our freedom!

This weekend completes the sixth year of this website blog for Conserve & Pro$per that began on Memorial Day 2015. In that initial blog, I posed the question, “is our freedom truly sustainable if we lack the basic necessities of water, food, and shelter?” I provided the website purpose, "to share my 30+ years of experience working in the environmental science field. I aspire to inform and share ideas on how we can all live on planet Earth by conserving precious resources, eating healthier food, breathing cleaner air, and creating a smaller footprint.”

It’s estimated that about 2 million Americans do not have access to running water and basic plumbing. Over 34 million Americans live in poverty and one in four people experienced food insecurity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The fight against the virus during the first year claimed an estimated 3600 health care workers in America. We need to have a memorial for their sacrifices too.

On Memorial Day 2016, I shared some of my parents experiences living through World War II including how the government wanted everyone to ration goods to help the soldiers and created messages like, "Do with less so they'll have enough."

After the Second World War, America helped rebuild Europe with the Marshall Plan and we've enjoyed sustainable freedom for over 70 years through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as I discussed in 2018.

My parents experience living through past wars and the Great Depression taught my family to be frugal, save and find ways to reuse items as described in 2019. My Dad reused plastic gallon jugs by opening the tops to turn them into tool holders or for storing hardware and magazines.

Last year in 2020, I discussed the pandemic and how we need to have courage to speak the truth as we know it, share compassion and courage with others, pray for everyone to come together to seek Nature’s balance and make our world habitable for all life.

The rapid spread of coronavirus continues to show us how interconnected and interdependent the world is on each other and on Nature. I am grateful to all the people who have made sacrifices in wars and health care battles so we may continue to survive and thrive.

Memorial Day 2018: Sustainable Freedom

My father contributed to winning World War II by fighting for American freedom against predominantly German and Japanese dictatorships. He defended our Constitution that grants many freedoms to our republic which brought people immigrating from around the world to enjoy freedoms including of speech, religion, press and assembly. He worked his entire career for the Navy Department so I grew up in the suburbs of Washington D.C.

Our national holiday of Memorial Day is interesting to observe from an international perspective. America helped rebuild Europe with the Marshall Plan and we've enjoyed sustainable freedom for 73 years through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, many of these freedoms are increasingly being challenged as international cooperation breaks down by strong nationalist and protectionist views. 

One of America's closes allies since the Civil War period has been the southeast Asian country of Thailand - which translated means "Freedom" and is the only country in the region to escape colonial rulers. King Mongkut offered the use of elephants to America in 1861 which is still seen as a gift of friendship. The U.S. operates many military bases in Thailand which became a hub for our soldiers during the Vietnam war.

I recently learned about the Ten Royal Virtues of the recently deceased King Bhumibol (whom I previously posted a blog on 10.29.17 regarding his successful environmental stewardhip). These come directly from the Buddhist tradition known as the Ten Duties of the Government as described in the book What the Buddha Taught:

1. Giving - Non-attachment to wealth and property; consider first the welfare of the people.

2. Morality - Avoid cheating, adultery, lying or using intoxicants.

3. Donation - Sacrifice for the good of the people.

4. Honesty - Never deceive the public.

5. Gentleness - Be kind.

6. Simple life - Avoid a life of luxury.

7. Non-anger - Never bear a grudge against anyone.

8. Harmlessness - Be non-violent to promote peace.

9. Endurance or Patience - Be understanding of others.

10. Right Actions - Be in harmony with the people.

As we celebrate the freedoms fought for by the Greatest Generation, let us seek virtue, peace, and harmony in our inner and outer worlds. 

Memorial Day 2023

For the past eight years since starting the Conserve-Prosper website, Memorial Day holds a special place in my heart remembering American military families, including my own family. The blog from 2021 provides a summary of remembrances sharing how my parents and all Americans wisely used resources during the war years which continued to be the custom in our home decades later. We commonly heard our parents say, “Waste not, want not” meaning if we use a commodity or resource carefully and without extravagance, we will never be in need. Conservation programs like rationing supplies of food, fuel, and paper became urgent during the war years. Due to the national war effort at home and abroad, the Allies won the Second World War and America prospered greatly.

Would you agree we can get by with less? Make it a game. See if you can find ways to save money and time by becoming more efficient in using resources. We can all be soldiers in the fight to protect nature from wiping us off the planet!