Memorial Day

I just received this email from a friend and thought it was a perfect post for today.  I’m heading to Argentina on business today so likely no postings this week.  Have a great one and I will be back next Monday, June 2.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. And so here we are gathered today, some 138 years later to pay our respects, to honor, and to remember those who died defending us.

Commander Kelly Strong, USCG (Ret.) perhaps said it best in his poem "No, Freedom Isn’t Free":

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He’d stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers’ tears?
How many pilots’ planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves?
No, freedom isn’t free.
I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn’t free."

Would those who’ve died so we could live say it was all worthwhile if they where to be with you today…to see how you are living your life…to see how you are making a difference? They died so we could live…they left their families behind…they where only kids. Don’t let them down…make them proud of what you do and the difference you are making…make the most of it…they gave their lives so we could!!!!

So, when things aren’t going your way and the going gets tough, close your eyes and think of them…ask yourself, what advice would they give me? Would they tell you to give up…hit the buzzer and stay in bed a little longer…make excuses? I don’t think so….what do you think? I’m sure they would gladly trade places with you!!!!

Make it a GREAT life…they gave theirs so we could!!!

All the best to all of my readers and your families on this very special day.