Today is Memorial Day. A day to remember those who have given their lives in service to our country. They took an oath to protect our country, our freedom, and to protect us. Each one is a hero, and they deserve to be honored and remembered.
As I ponder how to write about Memorial Day, I realize I don’t have any experience with sacrifice of this magnitude. To lose a loved one who has given their life in service to our country . . . I can’t imagine what that must feel like. Rather than speculate, I am sharing excerpts from an article on the Wounded Warrior Project Website:
“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.
They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”
— Harry S. Truman, 33rd U.S. President, 1945
“Memorial Day is important to me because I honor those who have sacrificed their lives and their family’s lives in pursuit of freedom for our nation,” said Army veteran Edwin Martinez. “What greater gift can one man or woman sacrifice to keep the U.S. free and maintain our way of life?”
U.S. Marine Corps veteran, David Daly, also holds Memorial Day close to his heart. He recognizes that many look forward to the long weekend but encourages us all to look beyond the day off and remember the bravery of the men and women who served.
“It has been said that one of the greatest tragedies is to be forgotten,” said David Daly. “As people take the opportunity afforded them by the long weekend associated with Memorial Day, it is important to remember why the day exists. For me, the day reminds me of friends lost and the horrors of war. At the same time, it reminds us all that while the day-to-day events of the world often paint a picture of gloom and doom, we still live in a place where heroes are among us. While these brave souls have passed in service, their memory is honored on Memorial Day to remind us that we had the privilege of existing on the same plane as them, even if it was only for a moment.”
Memorial Day is a reminder of the brave men and women who served our country and gave their lives for our freedom.
It’s not just a day off; it’s a time to think about why we remember these heroes. For veterans, it’s a chance to honor those who are no longer here.
Use this day to show how grateful we are for their bravery, and as a promise that we’ll always remember their courage and sacrifice.
There are many children’s books about Memorial Day available on Amazon. One that I recommend is The Wall by Eve Bunting. It’s a touching story of a man taking his son to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to find the name of his father on this wall. His son comes to realization that this name they have come to find is the grandfather he never knew. While he’s proud of his grandfather, he wishes he could have him here to do all the things a grandfather and grandson would do together.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:12-13 NIV
Until next time, God bless you!
Virginia
Virginia Finnie is the author of Hey Warrior Kids! Grab Your Slingshot!, Hey Warrior Kids! Put On Your Armor!, and It’s a Super-Bad Terrible Day!. Follow Children’s Books by Virginia Finnie for daily inspirational posts. https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensBooksbyVirginiaFinnie