The Many Sides of Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. Marking the unofficial start of summer, for many this is the first three day weekend that they have enjoyed since New Years and they will take advantage of it with their trips to the beach, picnics, parades, or if they live in Central Indiana, perhaps the Indianapolis 500. Our biggest concern is whether we have enough hot dogs and buns, cold enough beer, or how grateful we are that we don't have to return to work until Tuesday.

There is another side to this story that I hope we each pause and remember on this day... 

There are the families who anxiously gather on the pier waiting for what seems like forever for their sailor to return from that months long deployment.  Anchor pools will be won and lost, fathers will meet children for the first time, and leaves will be granted; all before the process starts over again and that ship redeploys sailing over the horizon and leaving those families behind yet again.  I pause and remember those shipmates for their successful service and offer a hearty, "Bravo Zulu"!

There are those Americans who are in harm's way today. Whether aboard ship or submarine, saddled up in a patrol in some village far away, standing guard duty on a fence-line, waiting for that letter/email/care package from home and counting down the days until they return to the loving arms of those closest to them. I pause and offer a prayer for your safety and vigilance. May divine providence be of comfort to you and keep you until your return home. To these Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and "Coasties"; thank you for your service...although those two simple words do not even come close to expressing my gratitude for what you do each day.

Then there are those service members who are waiting on this day. They stand on the tarmac of an airport in full dress uniform, silently waiting to help a fallen comrade complete their journey home. They board the aircraft and make sure that all is "squared away" before taking that next step. There are also those service members who silently walk through each one of our National Cemeteries diligently placing small regulation Untied States flags at each and every marker. For these Americans, it is all about the details, the things that might seem trivial to you or I but, are very important to them. They will not accept anything less than perfection...anything less is a denigration of the sacrifice of the man or woman being honored. To these people I pause in appreciation of flawless execution of your somber duty and yes, I do believe that you make a difference.

Which brings me to my final group. Their weekend is missing someone...a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend; to go with them to the beach, enjoy that picnic, watch that parade, or see the Indianapolis 500. They will visit the cemetery, they will see the little flag, they will remember their loved one. To these fellow citizens I will not offer a trite cliche, but I pause and pray that you find comfort to get through this day and I hope that you know that you do not remember your loved one alone...

A nation remembers with you.

For more information on Memorial Day, please click here.

Comments

[Steve Broe]

Tim, I gratefully remember today that many have given in a big way to make this country free.

SB