In Memory of Oscar Scudder

In honor of Memorial Day I wanted to post a picture of the grave of my great uncle Oscar Scudder, my grandfather Herbert's older brother, who was one of the last Americans killed in World War I.  My nephew Pat was kind enough to send it my way.

I have a bit of a tortured relationship with Memorial Day or Veterans Day, not because I am not appreciative of the sacrifice of way too many American servicemen and servicewomen, but because of our government's attempt to conflate appreciating the efforts of the dead with unquestioning loyalty to the state, which is certainly not what they fought and died for.