Commentary: Muslim major reflects on Memorial Day

By Maj. Jalal MalikMay 26, 2010

ARLINGTON, Va. (May 26, 2010) -- As Memorial Day approaches, I take pause to reflect on the sacrifices of the loyal servicemembers who have given their life for a higher cause.

I take great pride in knowing that I may be counted, in some small way, among such company. More so, however, I feel humbled knowing that I have not given nearly as much as those whom we honor on Memorial Day - those who left their families and went far away, never knowing if they would return.

I look at the servicemembers that I serve with today and realize that this spirit of sacrifice is still alive, and it increases the pride I feel for so many who are filled with this same sense of duty. I sometimes can't believe that I am among such company.

As a Muslim serving my country, I feel sad for the state of the Muslim world. It is an era which has forgotten the bravery and honor of ages past, where Muslims upheld the rights of others. Today, Muslims are oftentimes associated with extremism and terrorism.

I've been on many deployments, and I'm sad to see how often Muslims ruin the image of Islam with their own actions. And then I thank God for giving me a community to be part of which relives the honor of the past. I thank God for the divinely inspired leadership that instills in us a sense of honor and dignity, loyalty to our country, and service to our fellow man.

The work is not complete, as I think to the horrors we still witness. I think of Rawanda, and the Sudan, Bosnia and Kosovo, and I wonder if our work will ever be done.

I think once again of the sacrifices of those who we honor this day, and I thank God for the blessings he's given us. I thank God for my country and the freedoms it has given me. I thank God for the teachings which I believe he has blessed us with. And I thank God for the honor to serve my country, and maybe one day be counted among the ranks of the honored.

I pray for my leaders, I pray for my fellow brothers and sisters in arms, I pray for my fellow countrymen, and I pray that we honor the sacrifices of those who came before us by finding the honor in our actions day and night, and that we fulfill our obligations with such a sense of duty that our children may look up to us one day.

Thank you to all those we honor this day, for your service, and giving your life so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have today. God Bless the U.S.A.

(Editor's note: Maj. Jalal Malik has been a faith group leader with servicemembers and is also a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, one of the oldest Muslim organizations in the United States. He is currently serving at the Army National Guard headquarters in Arlington, Va.)