Memorial Day

Memorial Day... a day set apart from all other days. A day, as a nation, we remember those who willingly put themselves in harms way to support and defend our constitution, our ideals, and a way of life which we hold dear.

The reality is every day some family member in the United States thinks about a loved one who lost their life, who became a casualty of war, whether on or off the battlefield. Everyday, a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, an aunt, an uncle, a cousin, or a friend is missed... is longed for... is painfully grieved.

Lives have been lost due to wounds sustaind on the training ground, during battles, and after wartime from post traumatic stress. Other lives have been altered; changed in a blink of an eye, forever. As an individual, as a family member, as a friend, as a citizen we are all diminished by those lost to the ravages of war. On a soulful level, individually and collectively, we bear the wounds of the fallen and the brokenhearted.

We remember when our breath was taken away by the loss of a loved one, yet, we also know that when our tears dry, when a new day dawns, we will still remember. We will still grieve. We will still be proud of the courage, the bravery, and the love in which a solider chose to stand. We will remember. And we will honor the place each of these people have had in our lives.

As we stand in solidarity with the community of our fallen soldiers, our fallen brothers and sisters, we take note of the saying,

"E Pluribus Unum." - "Out of Many, One."

On this Memorial Day, we as a nation acknowledge, honor, and remember the individuals who have fallen... and we remember those who are Missing In Action, and in doing so, we unite ourselves as one to say,

"As a people, we will remember the life you gave. As a people, we acknowledge that your life mattered. As a people, we are changed by your courage as well as your loss. As a people, we say thank you for your dedication, intentionality, service, and sacrifice. And as a people, we long and pray for peace."

On this Memorial Day we remember... with love in our hearts and tears in our eyes... the soliders... the people... our loved ones.