Memorial Day is a somber occasion when Americans thank, honor, and remember those who have served this country in the Armed Forces. But, as keynote speaker Lieutenant Colonel Heather Bienz pointed out, some towns like Marion have a special way of gathering the community together, bringing out the emotion, and filling a space with care and love that is palpable.
The Memorial Day observance took place inside Sippican School. Although the parade was cancelled due to the rainy weather, the true sentiment of the day shone through inside the building.
When Memorial Day comes to Bienz’s mind, when it really settles in, she wonders, “What does it mean ‘to be free’” and what does freedom mean for each of us?
“We all hold personal freedoms that we hold dear,” she said, and if those freedoms were taken away, we would notice it right away.
Bienz pointed out that in the Tri-Town, a soldier has not been lost in combat since the Korean War, although other nearby towns and cities have not been so lucky. Bienz referred to a playground built at the New Bedford Airport to honor Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Rodriguez, 19, of Fairhaven killed in Afghanistan in 2013. Someone, Bienz noted, who gave his life – his very short life – for our freedom. It is imperative, she said, “to memorialize the sacrifice and memorialize the freedom that we get to feel.”
Taking her children to that playground, Bienz said, gives her the opportunity to show them what it means to be free.
“To explain why it’s there,” said Bienz, “and to let them have a tiny tiny piece of what it would be like to not be free.”
And what if, she asked – what if we were to awaken one day to find the freedom that we have taken for granted had been taken from us?
“We are very fortunate to live in America … and the type of community that we live in to be able to appreciate the freedom that our soldiers have given to us and sacrificed their lives for,” said Bienz. “I think every one of you are able to appreciate that you are free. It’s the greatest gift that you can give back to the people that are fighting for our freedom, and especially to those who have sacrificed their lives for it.”
In closing, Bienz asked that we look at our day, each day, and cherish that we have the freedom to pursue what makes us happy.
“You can make the choices that you want because we’re free,” said Bienz. “I ask you to remember that we’re free and to use it as a tool to teach people that you meet … [and] remind them that we are free, that we appreciate it, and that we have an amazing awe-inspiring country: the United States of America.”
Bienz garnered a standing ovation as she left the stage.
Bienz is an Executive Officer of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at the Otis Air National Guard Base. She’s been an officer of the Air National Guard for five years, serving four in the Connecticut Air National Guard. She had eight years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force and has been deployed ten times since September 11, 2001. She lives in Marion with her husband and children.
By Jean Perry
