Death and Independence

It's 'Independence Day' here in the United States of America -- the day whereon we celebrate the birth of our nation and hail the heroes and heroines who sacrificed so mightily to make it possible.

It may have been noted before but, Death doesn't take a holiday.

I have just now returned from the hospital where a 32 year old young man, who not more than two weeks ago was playfully throwing around his similarly aged brother in their swimming pool, passed away this morning.

And this day marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of my older (and only) sister.

Even the very holiday is shot through with the remembrance of death.

Although the Declaration of Independence was issued on July 4, 1776, the effect of it only gradually came to be felt across the former British colonies. It wasn't until next Spring that "the shot heard 'round the world" was fired and death answered its volley. As I have written elsewhere:

"Jonas Parker and Isaac Muzzey and Jonathan Harrington, on a crisp April morning – at dawn’s first light – laid down their lives in freedom’s birth pangs on a little piece of mist-enshrouded land called Lexington green. There, as far better-trained and better-equipped British soldiers fired volley after volley into their ranks, these men laid their all upon the altar of duty and freedom.

Jonas Parker was wounded so severely that he could not rise and was bayoneted when still he tried to defend his village from the place where he had fallen.

Isaac Muzzey was killed instantly and Jonathan Harrington, in full view of his young wife who was watching from the upstairs window of their nearby house, was shot in the chest with a three-quarter inch musket ball. With blood gushing from his mortal wound he stumbled toward his home. He fell, struggled to his feet, and fell again. With all the love of his heart he pulled himself along, crawling until he reached his door – where waited his horror-struck wife who then flew to help him. And, reaching out his arms to her, he died at her feet…a martyr in the cause that has made and kept us a free and flourishing people for these many years."

Death doesn't take a holiday . . . but we do. And I hope that woven into the happy hours we'll spend together with friends, family and community this year, will be a moment or two of remembrance for those who have made it possible . . . and for those of our own circle who have slipped out of line to join the celebrations beyond.

"Live free or die!"