Honoring Those Who Gave It All!

Finally, a three day weekend. The Interstates are clogged with people anxiously trying to get out of town. Campgrounds and beaches are overflowing. Friends and family come together. BBQ’s are fired up and the beer is cold. The deafening roar of the Indy 500 as it gets underway. Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of Summer.

Unfortunately, many have forgotten what Memorial Day is all about.

Memorial Day, formally known as Decoration Day because the graves of Union Soldiers who died in the Civil War were decorated with flowers, was first observed in 1865. In 1866 it was declared that Decoration Day would be observed nationwide on May 30th. Memorial Day was first used in 1882 but did not become official until 1967. In 1971, Memorial Day was changed from May 30th to the last Monday in May in order to give Americans another three day weekend.

Memorial Day is now a day to honor all the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for your freedom. Your freedom of speech, your freedom of religion, your right to keep and bear arms, your right to travel where ever you choose, your right to sit on the couch, drink beer and watch the Indy 500. Many many countries do not have these same freedoms. In China you do not speak out publicly against the government. There are no rights to privacy. Every form of communication is monitored by the government. The news and internet are censored. (We can talk about Americas Patriot Act another time)

I have traveled all over the world and I feel there is no better country than the United States of America. Even with all her faults, I am very proud to be an American. I have put out my flag to honor our fallen hero’s. To say thank you for the freedoms I enjoy. I ask that you take a moment, reflect on the freedoms you enjoy. Put out your flag if you have one. If you don’t, go get one. And say thank you to those who paid for those freedoms with their lives.