Most of us will be out celebrating a 3 day weekend having fun enjoying our families and/or a little time off, as we should. Life is tough and we deserve it. Let’s not also forget why we have this holiday. Memorial Day originally started as Declaration Day. Several states lay claim to the first Memorial Day, and there was even dissent as the south refused to celebrate Memorial Day after the civil war.
While history can be fascinating, what’s even more important is the present. Memorial Day represents honoring those that have served our country. It’s always sad when some people refuse to honor certain veterans because they disagreed with a conflict or war. We owe our freedom to veterans. Our veterans didn’t get a chance to select which conflict or which war they would serve in. They just served, for us, for the United States of America, just because. They didn’t ask questions. Nobody would listen if they did.
First responders at the Boston Marathon or in Oklahoma or Texas didn’t get the chance to pick which disaster they’d respond to, they just did what was needed regardless of how scarred they’d be for dealing with the scene. The same is true with our veterans.
While you’re out there having fun this weekend, take a moment to visit a grave, or say thanks to an existing veteran, or just remember in your own special way. It’s the least we can do. We honor our fallen, but let’s also celebrate life.
Personally I’m thankful our SW Florida real estate market is recovering. Really I’m thankful for so much more. After watching my dad battle cancer courageously for 6+ years I’m reminded that life is precious. Celebrate precious moments this weekend with friends and family. You never know in the blink of an eye when things can change.
My dad was robbed from cancer. No better way to put it. But so are people with Aids, other diseases, tornado and other natural disasters, etc. The list goes on. There is no good way to make sense of it all. The universe doesn’t care about any one of us. I often ask what God’s plan was when a school full of children was leveled. The answer may never make sense to us humans, and we’ll never understand. There must be a purpose for us. Every one of us has been touched by death and disaster.
We do not know how much time we have here on earth. All we control really is how we treat others, how we enjoy the time we have, and how we honor those that served for our benefit.
So please, take a moment to thank a veteran, or a surviving spouse. Display your flag. Hug your kids. Say I love you to a loved one. Pick up the phone and call someone dear to you that you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Say all the things you’d want to say if today was your last day on earth. If that blink comes, you won’t get that chance tomorrow.
Remember that our veterans didn’t always get that chance. Most were separated from their families in a foreign place. Most spoke by written mail and an occasional phone call, and they sacrificed for us.
For us at home enjoying our freedom and our weekend, we have it all. It’d be such a shame not to pay some respect. Such a shame not to say things you’ve wanted to say.
Remember it’s up to us to take care of each other. After thanking a veteran, the biggest honor we can bestow is to make this a better place. Enjoy your weekend, spend time with family, and honor America, a country of freedom worth fighting for!
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Memorial Day in SW Florida