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Friday, May 22, 2009

Remembering the Meaning of Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! Memorial Day weekend has become the kick-off to summer time. Vacations, bar-b-ques, beaches, pools, cold beer and hot nights. All of these words, and several more, have become synonymous with Memorial Day weekend and summer fun. However, this holiday weekend was not founded for hot dogs and potato salad. I think sometimes everyone, including myself, forgets that. This weekend we are supposed to be remembering those who have fallen and given their lives for us, for our freedom.

This weekend there are thousands of American families who have empty seats at their picnic tables and yellow ribbons around the oak trees. For many families those seats will remain empty. Those young men or women will not return home. They gave their lives in exchange for the freedom we all enjoy. For others, those seats sit empty waiting to be filled again.

So this weekend when you raise a glass, take a moment to remember. Remember how lucky you are to have your loved ones with you. Remember those who are fighting far away for you and for me. Pray that they come home soon and give their families the best Happily Ever After of all.

6 comments:

Lindsay Townsend said...

Thanks for this poignant and very timely post, Sara. For some, they do not have a happy ever after so that others do. Their sacrifice must be remembered.

Lisa said...

Well, said.

I find it particularly difficult during this holiday to think of all the men and women who did come home, only to bring the war home in their minds.

The ones I know are so lost, it is very much like another life has been forfeited.

Memorial Day now is much different than it was 30 years ago for our family. It used to be full of happy picnics and my mother and grandmother showing up wearing white after a long winter shunning the color. These days we don't celebrate. We "gather." Our brother in law, our cousins...they are there, but lost to us.

Savanna Kougar said...

Decaf, my deepest condolences. I wish they would all come home and find a way to heal.
I wish I had a way to bring them all home.

Sara Humphreys said...

My thoughts are with your family and above all my gratitude.

Bekki Lynn said...

Yes, Sara. Thank you!

There is nothing like being up close and personal for it to hit home, Decaf.

I've been around it all my life.

Lindsay Townsend said...

Decaf,
I am so sorry to hear this. I hope and wish, as Savanna says, that all the 'lost' do find a way to gain real peace from war.
My thoughts are with you and yours.