memorial day

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." - 

Gen. George S. Patton

Growing up with a mother whose favorite movie is Patton (true story) and a grandfather who lost a brother overseas, I always knew that Memorial Day was not about BBQ's, the start of summer or white jeans.  It's about memorializing and celebrating the men who died while serving this wonderful country. While I always think its nice that people thank D for his service, it's not really about that either. (Please note there is a difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.) Rather its about D's friends that he lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Its about the men honored at an unnatural number of memorial services that D attended during his 2005-2006 deployment.  It's about the friends my parents lost to Vietnam. It's about the family members we lost during WWII that were never at the holiday table again. So while we are enjoying the beginning of the summer weather, we will raise a glass to all of those who left home and never came back.  To the men who left family and friends behind. We haven't forgotten you. We never will. We are all better people for having known you. You are never far from our thoughts. You are always in our hearts.  

And we thank God that such men lived.