Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day! A day to honor and acknowledge the men and women who have given a part or all of their life to protect and serve the people of this country by their military service.

Its unique to this country to celebrate these people with barbecues, beer bashes, parades and beach outings.  I know that isn’t the idea that started Memorial day, its just the reality.  A lot of the things we do in this country are not understood by foreign countries. The freedom to celebrate any way we want is part of being a US citizen.  That freedom is the source and foundation of all of the wars and military actions that the United States of America have entered.

Who are these heroes who fight for our freedom? Are they the men and women who are currently in Afghanistan and Iraq? Are they Army, Navy, AirForce, Marines, Coast Guard?   Are they the National Guard  who are dispatched to any disaster area that occurs within our borders?  Are they the veterans who served in World War II , the Korean War, Viet Nam, or the first Iraq War? Are they the weekend warriors of the reserves?  I believe all of the above and more are our heroes.

My dad, my brother,  my cousin, my husband and my best friend have all been active military at one time or another.  This day is for them. I find men who have served in the military to be very attractive. Military women have the same attractiveness.  There is something about them that makes them  a little different. It s like they are part of a secret club that only they know the password.  I think it might be a hint of more courage or perhaps its less fear when confronted with any level of risk.

Whatever it is, it deserves acknowledgement.

Many have been damaged in ways we do not recognize.  Disabled veterans are not just those with missing limbs.  There are those who had extreme survivor guilt after being a sole survivor of a Green Beret or SEAL Team or some other special force unit.  There are many others who have suffered emotional and psychological damage that isn’t visible. Many of those are our homeless.

Whoever you are, we thank you.  We salute you!  We honor you! Have a great day!

My personal thanks from Getting What You Want!.