My stomach turned. It might have been the combination platter. The main dish being the invasion of Ukraine. The sides, Buffalo and Uvalde.

Gut wrenching destruction followed by servings of heartbreak.

My life’s career was building. Mostly homes, new houses, remodels, renovations, kitchens and baths. Sometimes schools. Sometimes medical offices. Occasionally, a commercial space.

If I demolished something, it was to replace it with something better, something new. Demo is fun. It’s quick and satisfying.

Plus you learn so much.

Tearing things apart teaches you how to put things together. Demo shows you how your predecessors figured out a way to build a structure. And always, demo unquestionably led to construction.

On this Memorial Day weekend, I’m reflecting on how the prevalence of peace for the last 80 years has allowed America’s builders to shine. We take that for granted. We assume that, despite hiccups, we’ll continue to have the freedom to make our country’s communities better.

Now I realize. We’ve been blessed. We’ve been lucky.

Events show that without peace and security the confidence to invest in the infrastructure of our communities is a fragile thing.

Just like our health, we take it for granted until, whoosh, in an instance, life changes. Then, perhaps a moment too late, we realize what a gift that is.  

Neighbors emigrated from Poland 40 years ago. Most of their family still lives there. We were discussing Ukraine.  They said their nephew is the first of their family not to experience an invading force in over 400 years. Every other generation was overrun by invaders. That brought me up short. Wow, what would your world view be if 20 generations of your ancestors had fought invaders?  Their nephew is still a young man. He could be the 21^st generation.

Here at home, we take our civilized society for granted, that it will always be here. Our ability to build and provide homes, schools, roads, water, power, shopping, medical facilities, and more will always be available to us.

We gloss over that history is filled full of great civilizations that once flourished but no longer. Dead nations around the globe. Great empires that worked. Civilized cities and cultures that promoted free thinking, commerce and dialogue. And the counter balance – autocracies and dictatorships that also worked for a period of time. Until they didn’t.

I never thought that in my lifetime I would see siege warfare return to Europe. I never thought I’d see wholesale destruction of cities, infrastructure, communities, schools, homes, and hospitals, targeted and destroyed by invading forces.  

To a warrior, this will sound naïve. But without warriors securing the peace, there is no ability to create civilization. To build requires a certain amount of defense and strength to keep the peace. To allow builders to build.

As Americans, we tend to be generous and to believe in other people. We assume that we’ll be treated equitably, as we attempt to treat others similarly. Are we perfect? Hell, no!  

We are a nation that is a work in progress. Made up of individuals that are works in progress. Yet, the individual sacrifices on behalf of the whole are what gives me pause.

Grateful, I take this moment to remember my great-great-great Uncle Charles Moore who died as a Union soldier in the Civil War at the age of 21.

I remember my mom’s cousin, Roger Anderson, who died in pilot training in WWII.

I remember my uncle, Ross Fobair, shot down over the humid skies of Vietnam.

I’ll remember the personal sacrifices that my dad, uncles, and forebears made in serving our country.

I’ll remember my uncle Mel who fought in the Pacific in WWII. He never talked about his wartime experiences. Except once.

“It seems like the veneer of civilization is very thin,” I had said to him. He replied dryly, “Bruce, you have no idea how thin it is. I’ve seen things that I never thought imaginable.”

I’ll remember my dad’s cousin, Norris, who operated a landing craft onto the beaches of Italy, multiple trips under fire, dropping GIs into battle.

I’ll remember my Aunt Mary who grew up on a Wyoming cattle ranch. She joined the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in WWII. She wasn’t allowed to fight, but she was allowed to teach. And so she did, as a gunnery instructor, teaching thousands of Marines the fine art of the .50 caliber machine gun.

They didn’t choose to engage in war. They fought to defend what they thought was right and just. In order to restore the veneer of civilization. To make it possible that builders could build and create community.

Yet, none of them imagined that here at home we would also have to fight to create safe spaces. Grocery stores, schools, concerts, churches, clubs, any public gathering where people come together to celebrate, to learn, to shop, and to reflect. To be human.

So, thank you to all those who served to preserve and promote our values and our civilization. Here’s a bigger thank you to all those who paid the ultimate price with their lives so that we can enjoy this weekend. With freedom, peace, prosperity. Building our communities.