In this Memorial Day installment of Things Worth Remembering for The Free Press, Elliot Ackerman reflects on sacrifice, remembrance, and the meaning of honoring America’s war dead.
Ackerman turns to the famous final letter of Sullivan Ballou, a Union officer who wrote to his wife, Sarah, before the First Battle of Bull Run. Ballou was killed days later, leaving behind words that still speak across generations.
Memorial Day and Remembrance
Drawing on his own service in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ackerman considers how Memorial Day changes for those who have lost friends in war. What can feel abstract to many Americans becomes deeply personal for those who remember specific names, faces, and stories.
The Power of a Final Letter
The essay explores the tradition of “death letters,” written by service members in case they do not return home. Ballou’s letter becomes a reminder that remembrance is not only about death, but also about love, family, and the lives carried forward by those left behind.
Living for the Fallen
At its center, the essay argues that the best way to honor the dead is to remember them fully and then live. Stories, laughter, family, and ordinary joys can keep the fallen present among the living.