Memorial Day

What did Memorial Day mean to you? Was it the start of summer, your first Bar-B-Que, or an extra day off of work? I hope it meant remembering the veterans, the reason the day was established in the first place. I have an easy way to remember - I am married to a veteran.

This year he was the featured speaker at the Rhinelander (a town of about 15,000) Memorial Day ceremonies. Our grandson, who is in NROTC at Marquette and will be commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Marines when he graduates, also attended and sat up on the stage with me. His speech was good, It always is.In it he mentioned our grandson John and he had to pause because everyone there applauded which surprised me, him and John.

I was impressed because there were two WWII veterans there who were also POW's. One was in the Battle of the Bulge and the other paratrooped into Normandy. I was able to talk to them after the ceremony and hear their stories. You see movies about the war but it's much more amazing to hear someone tell you about it and THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN THERE! I wish I could have spent an hour with them.

I told this all to my son who I am now visiting in Tampa and he reminded me to be equally impressed with the job the guys are doing now in Iraq and Afghanistan. He, by the way is a Commander in the Navy and his new job here in Tampa has something to do with Afghanistan.

I'm glad we remember the veterans at least once a year. Freedom isn't free.