A Day to Remember Heroes

Three-day weekends are the grown-up equivalent to snow days for school kids. And no three-day weekend is more loved or looked forward to than Memorial Day, right? It is the official start of summer, warm weather, blooming flowers, backyard barbecues and easy living. But this Monday, please take a moment to remember what Memorial Day is truly about: Heroes past and present who have and continue to make unbelievable sacrifices so that we may live the good life every single day.

As we struggle through each week it is easy to get caught up in the tedious problems of everyday life — worrying about work, bills, letting the dog out and the boy who hasn’t called (even though it has been a week since your first date)! But then we think of our fellow Americans on the front lines and the problems they face on a daily basis, risking their lives at every turn, and our perspective is turned upside down. And the brave soldiers that are out there risking it all are not nameless faces — they are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, wives and in cases such as mine — husbands.

Even as the wife of a Navy pilot, I am guilty of taking my freedom for granted. But it is on Memorial Day that I make a point to reflect and be thankful for the many lives lost and forever changed in the pursuit for my freedom. Though we may feel like there is little or nothing we can do to show our appreciation, there are many ways to give back to our soldiers. The USO is a nonprofit whose purpose is to support the many brave soldiers currently serving our country by boosting their morale and welfare. Donations are used for everything from assisting soldiers when they arrive in foreign airports to providing Internet access so they may communicate with their families while in war zones. We cannot truly understand the trials and tribulations that face a soldier while on deployment but we can help by supporting organizations that strive to make their lives easier.

DAV is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting America’s disabled veterans and their families by making sure legislation gets passed on their behalf as well as providing services such as transportation to and from hospitals and free access to legal aide. You can help this organization and its worthy cause by donating money or volunteering at a VA Hospital or local veterans’ chapter. Visit the DAV website for many more ways to give.

In December 2000, Congress passed legislation and the president signed into law The National Moment of Remembrance Act. The White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance encourages Americans to stop wherever they are at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to observe a moment of silence in memory of the fallen heroes who died so that we may live in a country of freedom and opportunity. Take the opportunity this Memorial Day to remember those who are too often forgotten.