Memorial Day Weekend
I am conflicted,,. nobody likes conflict.
A simple, small test–whether I was going to post something for profit that allowed ignorance to continue, or tackle it in a way that could raise awareness and impact society (at least on a micro-scale). When you have to choose between profit and a minor moral slippage, I choose to stand firm on principle. Maybe it’s the Marine in me.
I represent a product line from a great company that, in their Memorial Day sale ad, had the lines, “Honoring All Who Served… While our Heroes Protect this great nation”.
Memorial Day is not for me, or any other veteran who is still alive. Imagine the ugly feeling that veterans have when the well-meaning pastor has all the veterans stand up in church on Memorial Day weekend (I can’t be the only one!). Thankfully, my pastor got it right this morning, honoring all those who have died serving, and their families who have that enduring hardship, leaving us vets in our seats, to remember our fallen brothers and sisters.
In talking this over with my mom, even after all these years, she had never really considered the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. In fact, I remember when I was trying to get is straight, because I only saw them as holidays that began and ended summer vacation when I was younger.
Enjoy your day off, make memories with the family you have. That’s what those soldiers, sailors, Marines, coasties and airmen and women did it for. Just remember to take a moment to quickly discuss, recognize and remember (Jesus set this example) the ones who gave all.
If you really want to make a difference, do the hard work of finding a service-widow, parents or family that suffers on this day, and do something meaningful to support them throughout the year. There’s a huge hole of relationship, support, provision, companionship and love everywhere that a servicemember didn’t come home.
If you do this… as a veteran, I would say to you, “Thank you for your service.”
#memorial day, #heroes, #veteran, #make a difference
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