Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Memorial Day Memories
I’m the daughter of a military man, married to a former military man, so Memorial Day has always been something bigger to me than just a day to throw some burgers on the grill and grab a couple beers out of the fridge. From the first time I marched in a Memorial Day parade as a Girl Scout, to the year I read the Gettysburg Address to the members of the VFW, I’ve known this was a special holiday.
Sometimes, though, it’s easy to forget about the meaning of a holiday, particularly one of those Monday holidays, that seem more like a welcome break from work than any kind of a special day. And when you couple that day with the beginning of summer weather, it’s even easier to concentrate on cookouts and lawn chores instead of the holiday’s roots.
So I looked up Memorial Day. I already knew it was originally called Decoration Day, and was used as the day the graves of Civil War soldiers were decorated, starting back in 1868. Because of North-South hostilities, it took until 1966 before a single nationwide day was officially designated by President Johnson. Nevertheless, the meaning was always the same—to honor those who had served and given their lives for our country.
Ever since September 11, I have tried to stop and say thank you to soldiers when I have seen them in Wendy’s or at the airport. Just a simple “thank you for your service” can be enough to tell a soldier you appreciate his or her commitment to their job, and the sacrifices they have made so we can all live in this country. Takes only a second, but can make all the difference to someone in uniform.
Another newer addition to the Memorial Day celebration is the National Moment of Remembrance, an act signed into law in 2000, which “encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.” The moment of silence is designed to put the focus back on the memorial part of Memorial Day.
Today, I’m going to take those few moments in the afternoon to pause and send a silent thank-you out to those who have given their lives to our nation. I’ll also call my dad, and thank him. Give my husband a hug, and say thanks to him, too. If you have a second before you put those burgers on the grill, I hope you can do the same.
Enjoy your Memorial Day!
Shirley
PS: I’ll choose one lucky winner from the comments to win a copy of my Marine hero romance, THE MARINE’S KISS!
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thanks
Tomorrow my friend's son ships out to Afghanistan. He's in the Marines. He's already been to Iraq, was stationed in Japan for several months, then got to come home. He left the Marines at one time, but joined again. He told his Mom he may ask to stay longer than the 7month tour. His mother told him he had to be back by June for his sister's wedding. I remember when he was in Iraq a few years ago and how it affected my friend so I know what to expect from her behavior at work this time around. It's going to be tough on her and I hope she will be able to talk about it instead of keeping her feelings inside.
So I can only imagine what she's feeling on this Memorial Day.
Same here
We're off to have a cookout with my Dad, who still remembers more about Normandy and walking through France in WWII than he does what he did yesterday, but his life experience certainly always gives us perspective on our own. My husband was also in the Navy, and my nephew in the Airforce. I love listening to their stories, too, and endlessly glad that they made it home to tell them.
My Dad is VERY focused on making sure he gets to the cemetery to have family graves decorated for Memorial Day -- again, his short-term memory isn't great, but he gets very focused on things important to him, and that's one of them. They aren't military graves, but family ones, but this is what Memorial Day is for him, the memorial for all of the people we need to remember.
So we kind of combine it all. We do the graves, we do the cookout, we celebrate summer because we wait so freakin' long for it around here, LOL, and we express appreciation for the sacrifices of our military men and women.
Have a great day!
Sam
may everyone have a great
may everyone have a great Memorial Day to my neighbors to the South of me. Take time to 'remember' and give thanks and enjoy the BBQ's.
Between my husband and I ,
Between my husband and I , we had four boys in the Navy and in the Gulf during Desert Storm.
All came home safely.
Several of the guys I went to school with never came home from Viet Nam.
Because of this, I always give thanks to the veterans on Memorial Day.
Thanks
Thanks for the Memorial Day message. As a veteran (with a hankering for romance novels), I extend my thanks to all American veterans and to those who support them. Again, much appreciation.
Happy Memorial Day
My cousin was in the army and my friend is in the National Guard. I think of them and other soldiers often and how lucky we are to have them protecting our country.
Sick...
sorry for being out of the comment loop, all! almost as soon as I posted my blog, I started feeling miserable. Spent all day Monday in bed, and most of today, too. Now I'm just dragging myself out to go pick up kids before heading back for more sleep and cold medicine.
Shirley
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
In Stores Now: DOORSTEP DADDY
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