Honoring Muslim American Veterans on Memorial Day
By Craig Considine
Trinity College Dublin
On May 27th, Americans celebrated Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for the men and women who have died fighting in the United States armed forces. On this occasion I want to draw attention to the Muslim Americans who have died in battle for the United States. In doing so I hope to honor the Muslim American community for the sacrifices they have made for their country.
In the spring of 2009 I visited Arlington National Cemetery with Professor Akbar Ahmed to stop by the gravestones of Muslim American soldiers who died fighting in the Iraq War. Colonel Martinez of Washington's Old Guard, a regiment of the United States army, walked us around to see the resting place of several of his "great soldiers," which made us feel humbled and thankful to be in the presence of such brave American citizens.
One of the soldiers was Captain Humayun Saqib Muazzam Khan, a Pakistani-American who received a Purple Heart, a military decoration awarded by the President to those who have been wounded or killed in action. Next to Captain Khan was Ayman Abdelrahman Taha, an Arab-American, who also received the Purple Heart for the courage he exhibited in the Iraq War.
The graves of Captain Khan and Ayman Taha show that Muslim Americans have not only been soldiers in the United States armed forces, but that they have also brought honor to the United States for their courage and bravery in fighting for freedom.
Captain Khan and Ayman Taha are just two of the many Muslim Americans who have died fighting for the country that they love. In fact, the history of Muslim Americans' service in the United States armed forces goes back to the founding of the country in the American Revolution.
Under George Washington, several Muslim Americans served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Bampett Muhammad, for example, fought for the "Virginia Line" between 1775 and 1783. History also denotes a man named Yusuf Ben Ali, referred to by his slave name Joseph Benhaley. Ben Ali was descended from North African Arabs and served as an aide to General Thomas Sumter in South Carolina.
Another man believed to be a Muslim in Washington's army was Peter Buckminster, who etched his name into American history at the Battle of Bunker Hill by firing the shot which killed Great Britain's Major General John Pitcairn. After being granted his freedom for freely enlisting in the army, Buckminster changed his last name to "Salem." Historian Amir Muhammad points out that "Salem" is nearly identical to the word "Salam," which is the word for "peace" in the Arabic language. Salem later reenlisted in Washington's army and fought victoriously at the Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Stony Point, where Washington served as commander.
The presence of these Muslim Americans in several of Washington's most defining moments suggests that Washington cared little for the religious makeup of his army and cared more for their devotion to freedom and independence.
In reflecting on the Muslim Americans in Washington's army and my visit to the gravestones of the Arlington National Cemetery, I cannot help but be struck by the symbolism of the religious backgrounds of America's soldiers. Christians, Jews, and Muslims have all died fighting for the American people. On Memorial Day, we should remember the power of American pluralism and that our strength as Americans comes in our diversity and not in our differences.
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