What is Memorial Day

A Day to Remember

I am not here to ridicule those who decide to have fun on a three day weekend but I would just like to put out my two cents on Memorial Day.  Those who know me know that I retired from the Air Force in 2011 after 24 years of service.  I was always taught to respect our military and those who fought to defend our way of life, but in those 24 years, it took on a whole new meaning.  I was blessed with seeing the world both good and bad.  I have been to many places, met many people and grew each year to have a deeper and deeper appreciation for those who did not come home to see their families one more time.  I have even proudly (with deep remorse) flown a few of them back to the United States on one leg of their final journey home

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, the ones who left behind families and loved ones to defend the United States of America.  We all took an oath to protect and defend against all enemies.  Though many of us understand the sacrifices we were and are making, the ones that truly understand this sacrifice are the people that have been touched by someone they know and/or love who has given the ultimate sacrifice, when they died defending our great nation.

All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Today is a day to remember those who gave all.  They gave their lives to defend what we have today.  The right to free speech, freedom of religion and the pursuit of happiness.   To many in this country, these are just words on a piece of paper, to a select few, these are words to live by and are worthy of defending.

I challenge anyone reading this blog to watch the movie Taking Chance with Kevin Bacon this Memorial Day weekend.  The main character has no lines in the movie whatsoever but is the center and focal point of the whole movie…Lance Corporal Chance Phelps.  This movie depicts everything that Memorial Day is truly about.  It is about how whole communities and strangers come together to remember those who have given all they can to protect our nation.

Taking Chance

Here are a couple of short videos about the movie and the Lt Col who escorted his fellow Marine to “his final post” and has given him the opportunity to be remembered.

“You are his witness now, without a witness, we are nothing.”

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