News & Stories

SIPA Veterans Reflect on Memorial Day

Posted May 24 2020

Every year, the United States honors members of its military on three distinct occasions: Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. While these days are often confused, there are clear distinctions. Armed Forces Day, which falls on the third Saturday in May, pays tribute to the men and women who are currently serving the military. Veterans Day—celebrated each November 11, a date that commemorates the end of World War I—is a day to remember all veterans who served in the military. Memorial Day is a more somber day, honoring those in the military who made the ultimate sacrifice, and is observed at the end of May.

Cristina Martinez MIA ’21, James McLaughlin MPA ’21, Alexander Pytlar MPA ’20, Jim Wang MPA ’20, and Daniel White MPA ’20 recently spoke with SIPA News about the significance of Memorial Day and their service in the U.S. military.

What does Memorial Day mean to you?



Pytlar: It means taking a second or minute or whatever time you have to think about those who came before and the price that was paid to enjoy the freedoms that we have. And if you can do that, take time to reflect, it’d be great. It’s not a time to wear a black shroud, but just find time to gain some perspective for both the goods and the bads of this country’s history and the sacrifice that put us in the position we are in today.

Martinez: It means that we as a nation, as a people, remember those who perished in service to their country. Remembering someone or stopping to reflect on the actions of others allows me to keep the memory of these men and women alive. It is a set date that we as a people are able to stop and bring these people back even if only for a second.

How do you reflect during Memorial Day?



McLaughlin: I think a lot about my time in undergrad at West Point from 2006 to 2010. College is supposed to be a formative time; many would call it a crucible, and rightly so. For me and for many of my classmates, the backdrop of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan sombered our time [at the U.S. Military Academy], because graduates were losing their lives on the battlefield and announcements were made at lunch, what felt like weekly. It was a harrowing reminder of what we were doing—training to fight the nation's wars and defend the American way of life—and also of the due costs that it might take, our lives. I think about my West Point classmate and friend, First Lieutenant Todd Lambka, the most during this weekend. He was killed in Afghanistan in August of 2012, in a region where I would later serve in as well.

White: I think a lot about service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice over the long stretch of this nation's history, from the Civil War to the conflicts we are in today, that maintain the American way of life. Most immediate in my mind during this time is [Teachers College alumnus] Major Thomas Kennedy, who was my company tactical officer during my time at West Point. Tactical officers are mid-career officers who provide guidance for the cadets to develop and grow throughout their training to become a commissioned officer. Major Kennedy was a fair, people-first leader who definitely made an impression on me and is part of the reason why I chose to become a field artillery officer after graduation. I think about the sacrifice he made and how you don’t have to think people are below you to lead them.

How have you kept the memory of these friends, colleagues, and mentors alive during your time at SIPA?

Pytlar: I was lucky to get selected as a Seeples group leader last year and led a group of incredible first years with Group N. A former first-line supervisor from college, First Lieutenant Chase Prasnicki, was killed in Afghanistan in June of 2012. Chase had an infectious, positive cult of a personality that made you want to be a part of his team. I learned from him to perpetually seek an opportunity in any challenge and bring positive energy to whatever you are facing. I tried to bring that type of positive energy to my Seeples group everyday. Your first year of battling microeconomics, macroeconomics, and quantitative statistics can be quite daunting. Being a sounding board and resource for others is what Chase was for me, and in turn it’s how I can honor him best and be it for others.

Wang: I keep alive the memory of those that I honor but continuing to serve in the Marine Corps as an officer in the reserves and sharing with other classmates at SIPA on the benefits of serving their country. I don’t expect nor ask everyone to dedicate an entire lifetime or pay the ultimate sacrifice, but we all can give back in some small way. Serving in government, either in or out of uniform, for a year makes all the difference.

These interviews by Daniel E. White MPA ’20, have been condensed and edited for clarity.