46 Time October 21–28, 2019
I’ve got friends buried there, and I think the best
way to tend to their memory is to tell my kids
stories about them. Who knows, maybe when
my kids are grown up, they’ll pass some of those
stories down to their own kids. I try not to take
them on Memorial Day itself, as it is packed, so
usually we wind up there after school the week
before. Two years ago on our visit, a detachment
from the Old Guard—the ceremonial troops who
work at Arlington—was lined up in formation
behind a riderless horse and caisson. My kids
asked me what was going on, and I explained
that the soldiers were preparing for a funeral.
As I told this to my daughter, I caught myself
staring across the Potomac, toward downtown
Washington. Observing the indifferent afternoon
hustle, a sadness came over me. But I was with
my kids, so I shook it off. We visited a few more
graves, I told a few more stories. Then we left.
On the drive home my daughter asked if
someday she would have to fight in a war.
“Only if you want to, kiddo,” I answered, but
could feel my response stick in my throat.
I then glanced into the rearview mirror, at that
little sliver of her face that was just her eyes, and I
watched as she tried to understand the difference.
2019 marks the first year someone born
after 9/11 will be eligible to enlist in the armed
forces to potentially serve in Afghanistan or
another theater in the global war on terror.
Never before in our history has an American
been able to fight in a war that is older than
they are. Currently our civil- military divide is
arguably as wide as it has ever been. The bur-
den of nearly two decades of war—nearly 7,000
dead and more than 50,000 wounded—has
been largely sustained by 1% of our popula-
tion. From Somalia to Syria, American forces
are engaged in combat. With recent military
Nation
Around Memorial Day
each year, I take my
children to Arlington
National Cemetery.
>
MOHAMED
ABDELHALIM, 17
QUEENS, N.Y.
“My father is a
commercial pilot.
I decided to join the
Marine Corps because
it’s more of a challenge,
and it will help me
become disciplined on
my way to becoming
a pilot. My dad did
want me to do the Air
Force, but it had to
be the Marines.”It’s been 18 years
since 9/11. This
year marks the first
that someone can
enlist to fight in a war
that’s older than they
are. I traveled with
Gillian Laub to Parris
Island, S.C., to speak
with new Marines
about why they
decided to serve.
—Elliot Ackerman