It is important that we never lose sight of why Memorial Day exists. As we prepare to celebrate, many of us are up to our elbows in BBQ preparations or planning to attend one thrown by friends and/or family. Yet there is more to this holiday than BBQ’s and kicking off the summer. 

We live in a country where we have many freedoms that others around the world do not. To protect our freedoms and to attempt to provide others with the same opportunity to taste such freedoms…many men and women have paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is quite disheartening to see generations not far behind me, who do not understand the sacrifices made by those who came before them. Even more so, are the actions taken by those who have never served our country in such a capacity, yet they are willing to look down their noses and shun the very people who put their lives on the line for us.

As a woman who grew up in a military household, my views may be somewhat different than others. Maybe my father’s enlistment instilled more than pride in our country, but a respect for the armed forces and it’s people that protect our way of life. Yes there are other forces out there that play into the grand scheme of things, I am not ignorant afterall. But we must remember that at the end of the day, when we lay our heads down in our beds, many brave men and women  have risked everything to proctect the freedoms of this country. They were sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, friends, husbands and wives. All of them made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Honor them when you are at your BBQ. Remember those that are still serving away from their loved ones as well as those who have fallen in protection of this country and its people.  

I am proud to be a part of a family who has a very rich military history, just as I am proud to have friends who have served their country in the Army, Air  Force, Marines and Navy. Do I feel our country is without fault? No. Do I feel the men and women who have fallen doing their duty for their country deserve a day to memorialize them forever? Ab-so-freaking-lutely.

Remember the sacrifices made by those who came before us… being made by many today… and those that will be made in the future.