We have a lot of Holidays during the year, but I think that there is no day, during the year, that should be given more thought and consideration, than this. They "Served The Country." I really don't think that we give enough respect for those who Served, and even more, those who died, while serving.
Think what it means, to leave your home and family, learn a whole new way of life, a new routine, new friends, training, whose end result is self preservation, or killing an unknown enemy. A person who was brought up learning "not to kill," is now being trained on "how to kill."
Eventually, perhaps, to be put in a situation where those around you are being killed, you see comrades falling to the ground, you are placed in a "kill or be killed" situation. For your country, perhaps a country that has not been that beneficial to you, that has not produced the bounties that others had received. And, here you are, possibly dying for that ideology. They say, dying so that those back home can live. Millions have died, millions more have served.
They fought and died for this "ship of state," but now, the "ship" is floundering, greatly in need of repair, slowly sinking, and it appears that the leaks cannot be fixed.
Just think, millions have died, millions left home, millions went to foreign lands, and nothing has been determine or decided yet. WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, wars are still raging, people are still dying, men, boys and women are still leaving their homes, still dying.
So, this one day, take a five minute break from your routine, try to visualize, leaving home, leaving your family, undergoing a training that is completely opposite to the training you have had so far, visualize facing an enemy, being in a kill or be killed situation, all alone, in a foreign land.
No one gives up more, than a Veteran.
Why was there a WWI, Why did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Why did Germany want to "rule the world," what was the problem in Korea, Where was Desert Storm, What was gained in Viet Nam.
YOU will need more than a day to answer all these questions. Just say "Thanks," and take a moment on this day, to Remember.
I will, my Grandfather served in the Civil War, my Father was in WWI, my Brother was in WWII, I served in the Navy during the Korean War, my Son Dean, served during Viet Nam, and my Son Brad served during Desert Storm.
Thank a Veteran this Memorial Day, it is MORE than just a Holiday or a day off.
