On Saturday morning, May 28, at the cold and inconvenient hour of 5:30 am, an army of volunteers arrive at the National Cemetery at Pinelawn in New York. By 8:30 am 330,000 flags will be placed at that many headstones to honor the veterans who rest in peace there.
In planning to help that morning, one of the volunteers made an unexpected comment, "It's good that the hour is inconvenient." She paused and then added, "It is an honor to do this." Everyone listening understood.
On Monday, May 30, 2011, Memorial Day, flags and music and remembrance will permeate our morning. Down the main street of a rural farm town and an avenue of our largest city will come Americans of every age and size and color, all marching to honor our veterans.
Somehow though, many of us have gotten out of the habit of celebrating the reason for Memorial Day. With the children and grandchildren coming for the afternoon Grandpa makes sure the lawn is mowed, the driveway is swept and the backyard grill is ready for cooking.
A day or two of shopping, cooking and cleaning and Grandma is ready to feed that so called army of hungry mouths. But do we also plan to feed the souls and spirit of our grandchildren by showing our gratitude for the sacrifices of our veterans?
What is important to us will be important to them. When we show that we are thankful, they take notice. Let's remember to show our patriotism as openly as any treasure we would gladly bequeath.
We've seen fathers, husbands, sons and even grandsons go off to serve our nation and protect our freedoms. This is a tribute to them all.
A Military Tribute "Men Like My Son"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shWr8qyOQMg&feature=player_embedded
