Always Remember

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” —Joseph Campbell.

Today is Memorial Day. Sadly, most of the people I know think of it as National BBQ Day. They didn’t meet my Grandpa who served in Europe during WWII. They didn’t meet Great Grandpa who died (as he shipped out for WWI). They didn’t meet my uncle who served in the Vietnam War. They didn’t meet me paternal grandpa who served in the military. They didn’t meet an honorable young man I consider to be like my son who served in the Middle East in the Navy. They didn’t meet my good friend who spent time in the Middle East during the Iraqi War. These are men who understood duty to country, and duty to protect freedom for all people. These are men who understand how these responsibilities are relent today… for everyone.

Our current culture is a “me-centered” culture. It is not surprising that most people miss the point of this “holiday.” It is not surprising that for current generations the concept of “duty” is a foreign idea. But have you considered where we would be today if the men and women who have and will serve in the military had not served to protect freedom? Have you considered that we all stand on the brave shoulders of those who protect freedom, even with their lives?

“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” —Aristotle

Today I honor those who have come before me, who have laid down their lives that I may live in a country where I am free to worship as I wish, where I am free to speak what I want to speak, where I am free to live and to vote, and express myself in many ways. Many countries do not offer the same freedoms for their citizens. Perhaps that is why they are lined up at the boarded to come to the USA and to escape the dangers and lack of freedom in their own country. Perhaps that is why more and more people speak other languages than English – because they are coming to the USA for safety. And who provides safety? Our men and women in the armed forces and civil forces.

“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I want to reflect on their courage, their dedication to something much bigger themselves, and their selfless act of sacrifice. Today I’d like to follow their example and dedicate more energy to the cause of freedom, justice and democracy, so that their legacy will live on so that future generation will know of their brave and selflessness for the benefit of future generations throughout the world.

“We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.” —Theodore Roosevelt

“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” —St. Ambrose