Wonderful Memorial Day

I'm off... to Custer State Park for a great memorial day. A couple months ago I would have never thought that I would be here for memorial day. But, I'm glad that I am and I get to spend the day with my family as we do every year. Last year we hiked Little Devil's Tower. This year, since my sister is still sick, we are just going to have a picnic and let the kids play by the creek so she can rest. It's all the same though. Just being with family today is great and puts things into perspective when we think about why we celebrate this day.

I have no brother, son, or husband who has died in the line of fire. I don't know what it's like to spend this day alone, when my beloved husband or father is overseas fighting for our country. But, I know that millions of families are separated right now by the threat of war. This day is for them, and my guess is, that it's not a happy day. Full of excitement, life, and joy. It's a day they walk onto grave sites, place flowers next to fallen ones, and remember a better time in their lives. It's a day they remember kissing their loved ones goodbye so many years ago, praying for a safe return, and dreading that knock on their door in months to come. Today, soldiers remember the pride they had fighting for their country, standing for something, representing a nation. As they unite all around this great land, today soldiers remember the bond they had with those they fought with hand in hand; side by side. And today, they remember the day they arrived back on American soil; forever changed.

So on this day, we put our American flags out as not just a symbol and not just for the sake of tradition, but today, we put our flags out as a sign of respect for all those families that will not spend this day picnicking and barbecuing. For the soldiers that have paid the ultimate sacrifice; and the families that mourn their loss. We put our American flags out for those families that are still apart right now; waiting and wishing for a better time to come.

And finally, we put our flags out as a sign of hope and think fondly on those families that have been reunited and can enjoy this day embracing their loved one. Our American flags sway gently in the wind for these families that represent a great hope; not just for a nation, but for every individual child, wife, father, husband, daughter, son, and mother in America that deals with the reality of war every day.

Rest In Peace Grandpa Taylor: Veteran of World War II