The idea of a two-day national holiday resonates when considering the connection between Memorial Day and Independence Day. On Memorial Day, we honor those who have fallen in war. The following day, we celebrate our independence with parades, speeches, and fireworks. These occasions are intertwined, reminding us of the sacrifices that underpin the values we hold dear in our independence.

On my desk sits a plastic vial filled with grains of sand from Omaha Beach in France, the site of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. Above the beach lies a military cemetery with over 9,300 graves marked with crosses and Stars of David. Though it is over 4,000 miles from Park Forest, where I reside, there is a profound link between these two places through memory.

Park Forest, often called “G.I. Town,” emerged post-World War II as a community for veterans to rebuild their lives. It was a place for creating peaceful lives and nurturing a new generation. Once, substantial crowds gathered on Memorial Day at Village Green in Park Forest to pay homage to those lost in war, with the late Carl Dalke among them. He wore his Eisenhower jacket adorned with medals, ribbons, and awards from World War II service. Carl passed away 15 years ago, and times have changed.

The Park Forest American Legion Post 1198, which previously spearheaded these tributes, has faced challenges. What was once a ceremony filled with prayers and songs lasted less than 20 minutes this year, attended by only around 40 people.

A memorial plaque on a wall at Village Green lists six Park Forest residents who died during the Vietnam War, with a line reading “we shall not forget.”

One such legacy, Lieutenant Colonel James Alvin Branch, piloted an F-4 Phantom on a Vietnam mission. Though shot down, his remains were found by a joint U.S./Vietnamese team in 1992. Another, Warrant Officer Rodney O. Davie, died when his helicopter collided during a reconnaissance mission.

Marine Lance Corporal Terry King served under a year before falling in combat. Army Corporal Joseph Passavanti III, who began his Vietnam service in February 1968, was killed by small arms fire in May that year. Army Sergeant John A. LaBundy died just before his 21st birthday in hostile action, and Army Private Gary McHugh passed away due to a severe illness worsened by adverse conditions.

In these times, amidst the clamor of partisan rhetoric, we should focus on the foundational values that define our nation of hope.

Jerry Shnay is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.