Photo by Anurima Sharma ’15
We are told to never forget,
never forget
the tragedies that led us
to where we are today.
All the pain and suffering felt,
all the time and money spent,
all the regret and bravery
is passed down from
generation to generation.
We have been told to learn and analyze,
to extract information and find appreciation,
not only for the brave men who fought,
but for everything they fought for.
Too much damage has been done,
too many people have been hurt
for us to simply
forget.
Every speck of dirt stepped on,
every journal entry written,
every word uttered,
every tool used
to bring us to where we are today
is documented, preserved and praised.
These ideas, these notions, these feelings
have been ingrained into society.
We were told that these men fought for
our Liberties.
Our liberties, the ones that allow,
and encourage us to say what we want,
do what we want,
be who we want.
It has been 237 years
237 years of remembrance and of gratitude.
We must continue to remember,
and in some ways it is unavoidable.
We cannot forget,
because we are surrounded by reminders.
all the songs, the stories, the monuments,
not a day goes by without a reminder,
a reminder that life was not always what it is like today.
Life was not always full of freedom,
allowing and encouraging everyone to
think for themselves,
act like themselves,
and listen to themselves.
If we forget the past, we might destroy,
destroy
our liberties,
and everything Americans before us worked so hard for.