Why Memorial Day Means More

There’s a bond within the military community that never really goes away. You gain a worldwide family that stays with you your entire life no matter how far apart you are. Years can pass, people can move across oceans and continents, and somehow the connection is still there the moment you see each other again.

But with that closeness also comes loss.

And when one of those family members is lost, especially due to military service, the grief runs deep throughout the entire community. These aren’t just names in history books or faces in photographs. They are husbands, wives, sons, daughters, parents, siblings, and friends. They are the people who sacrificed time, comfort, safety, and sometimes everything they had so the rest of us could enjoy freedoms we often take for granted.

And today, Memorial Day, is the day we stop to honor and remember the ones we lost along the way, the men and women who sacrificed their lives, their futures, and time with the people they loved so the rest of us could live freely. It’s more than a long weekend or a day off work. It’s a reminder that freedom has always come at a cost, and today we remember the people who paid it.

I am so grateful that I had the privilege of knowing so many incredible men and women who served our country. I’m grateful they taught me the true meaning of Memorial Day and why we stop to REMEMBER those who came before us.

For those of us fortunate enough to spend today surrounded by family, friends, barbecue, laughter, and freedom, please take a moment to remember the men and women who gave theirs so we could enjoy ours and for the families who have an empty seat at the table today.

God bless America and God bless our Military.