Memorial Day in the warzone

I don't know which America you live in (if you do), but I live in the part that's an active warzone.

I mentioned last year that roaming over a map of USA gun violence data, I could spot by eye only 2 areas with worse conditions than my area of north Minneapolis: certain areas of Chicago and New York.  This article makes it clear that neighborhood in Chicago is worse than my Jordan neighborhood.  Regardless, it's a reality that most Americans do not acknowledge.  I lived here in the Twin Cities for nearly 20 years and knew that north Minneapolis had a bad reputation, but I had no idea how bad it really is until I moved here.  That's why I keep writing about it.  This reality has to pierce the consciousness of the average American before it will finally lead to policy changes that help.

I don't know who this photographed memorial is for.  It appeared about 2 weeks ago.  As the crow flies, it's about 1/2 block from my house.  I don't know who died or how they died.  I walked over there today and took this photo.  I completely neglected my plan to update the memorials of Jordan neighborhood webpage.  I walked for a few years, I took photos of memorials I witnessed, but I failed to upload them and update the page.  Which makes this picture an even more embarrassing reminder of my insufficiency to change life here.  I sometimes am late hearing about stuff in my neighborhood.  Remember that intersection where I ducked down in my car to avoid bullets?  Somebody died near that same intersection after a hit-and-run last week.

I know this day is supposed to be about soldiers.  But people here live in a warzone, and nobody gave them body armor to support their bravery.  Nobody promised cheap and lifelong medical care if they receive injuries while here.  Yet still they live here, amongst the flying bullets.

So I'm rededicating today's holiday to the unknown citizen on my block.  They get a memorial of balloons and candles and no fanfare whatsoever.