In a Memorial Day article published in the Los Angeles Times circa 1993, essayist and Vietnam combat veteran, John Samuel Tieman realizes his enemy is not just the Viet Cong. He’s also fighting the militarism that invades – sometimes takes – the lives of children.

Tieman tells us we should have a separate day of mourning for children affected by military actions. To consider all the “downstream” consequences for children whose countries have engaged in warfare. How the necessities of shelter, food and water, medicine and educational resources can be diverted to support the war effort.

This is a grim holiday blog if ever, but Tieman rightly wants to us to place children at the center of every invasion, every battle plan. He wants us – all of us – to take stock of  “careless, irresponsible” militarism that doesn’t pause to ask questions. 

He’s not making the case for pacifism, but for a wider understanding of what happens to children once their elders take up arms.

This is a grim holiday blog if ever. The point is, as we enter this weekend of remembrance, let us be a people who connect the dots between kids and wars. Let that painful awareness haunt us, and guide our actions to give our children a true childhood.