Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day. Hope you are having a hot dog, hamburger, chips, potato salad, cold beverage, parade, relaxing, spending time with friends, playing games day. I also hope, I mean I HOPE you are in your own way taking time to remember those who sacrificed so much to give you a day off. Memorial day is more than that 3 day weekend. Memorial day rings true to a lot of places from Gettysburg to the Ardennes ; from Normandy to Midway; from Vietnam to Korea: from the plains of the Dakotas in the Midwest to the desert of Afghanistan; from the waters around Cuba to the waters where the USS Arizona lays quiet; and to the many headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. You may agree or disagree with the wars and the politics that were involved. That is your right. However no mater what your political opinion is; the men and women of our armed forces past and present deserve your gratitude. I say they deserve it 365 days. But especially on days like Memorial Day and Veterans Day(Nov 11th). If you can't tell this is an important topic for me. My Dad was in the Navy. He served aboard a submarine during a little thing called the Cuban Missile Crisis. The US stared down the Russians and didn't blink. My Brother David also served in the Navy. He was stationed in the Philippines and worked in radio for the Far-East Network. I myself was drawn for a long time to military service. I enlisted in the Air Force, and after high school was off to boot camp. I was in Missile Maintenance, that's ICBMs. So a second generation of my family stared down the Russians. And in my opinion, this one we both won. Last but not least my Brother In Law Dave. Dave was in the Army, 82nd Airborne to be exact. Among other things he spent over a year in Afghanistan. And what about my Sister? Memorial Day is for families too. How much could you accomplish without your family backing you up? I know I would not have achieved so much.

So I say enjoy your picnics, parades, lounging with friends or just relaxing on the couch. But don't forget how much this holiday has cost and how much it is worth. Take a moment to remember our Veterans or even better thank them personally. If they are like me they will say they didn't serve for a thank you, but they will appreciate it a lot.

As for me I say THANK YOU to all those Submariners, Radio Operators, Missileers, the guys from the 82nd, all our families and all those Veterans who sacrificed so much with many paying the ultimate price. We are ALL in your debt.