I have already written my thoughts on Memorial Day, and have no great words to add today. Although, with a whole new conflict ongoing, and Americans fighting and dying for their country, you would think I would have strong feelings on that.

A year ago I needed a gif of a purple heart medallion for my Memorial Day entry. And went to the most obvious source... eBay. And was both surprised and distressed at the number of Purple Heart Medallions that were up for auction.

I checked again yesterday. Over thirty Purple Hearts.

Now many of these were mint, still sealed in their case. Uninscribed. Have no idea how those came to be in circulation, but it would appear they were not earned. No one suffered pain, injury or death to put those into the medallion market.

But many were inscribed with the name of the soldier that sacrificed for this country, directly below the words "For Military Merit."

How did those end up on the block?

A veteran who died without any heirs? Who gave his or her all, and leaves no one of their bloodline behind to enjoy the freedoms they gave to the rest of us?

Who left a family in disarray, who cared not about tokens of war? Or were in such pain or anger that they disposed of possessions without care?

I have seen my father's Purple Heart maybe twice in my life. While in the training session on estate planning last week, it occurred to me the first memento of my father that I would want, is that medal. The second is the medal he has from his grandfather, from the Civil War.

How could anyone let such a thing go?

Surprisingly, several of the sellers offering named Purple Hearts on eBay do not provide the name of the veteran. "In deference" to the survivors? How ridiculous is that? If anyone needs to know that item is available, it is the family and heirs. Those to whom that medallion is personal, a true accounting of the cost of freedom, not just a trophy for a collector.

If I won a lottery, I would buy them all. Every day. And find some appropriate venue for their display. A public arena for demonstrating the costs that have been paid.

Are being paid.

So for those currently on the auction block:

My thanks to:

George W. Linderman,

John Lehan; KIA, Brittany, 31 August 1944,

George L. Campbell, Jr; KIA aboard the "Gregory the Great", Europe 1944,

Angelo Zeritis; KIA, Landschied Germany, 8 March 1945,

Rodney J. Gerrish; KIA, Italy, 23 May 1944,

Leonard Charles,

John Calvin Cox,

Robert Earl Lawless.