Memorial Day thoughts

First of all, Happy Memorial Day to everyone. I hope that with all the BBQ's and the fun, we don't forget the meaning of today. I know I don't. I have a long-time LJ friend of mine who lost her baby brother in the war. The story will forever stick in my head and I'll always remember the day she posted the news, I remember everything about it. It's tragic and something I'll never forget.

I see that I'm not the only one out there that feels a bit odd about how people seem to forget the meaning of today. Yes, it's a day off. Yes, you should celebrate being alive and having freedom. I'm not saying we should all stop having fun to be depressed today... but it should be a little more than just a three-day weekend.

My dad was a Vietnam war veteran. He survived the way but had had flashbacks and other issues for the rest of his life. My grandpa was a WWII veteran, I only wish I had understood what all that meant at a younger age to ask him about his experiences with the war, but sadly he passed away before I realized the significance of it all.

Yesterday, without realizing the tie-in to today, I watched videos of soldiers reuniting with their families. I seriously cried. It all touches me on such a deep level.. You have these people who leave their families to protect us, knowing they very well could die in doing so. Many of them do too.

They are stronger than I ever could be. Put me in the Afganistan or Iraq? I would curl up in a ball and cry because I'm a coward. I couldn't do it. \ They do what most of us simply can't, and many of them die while they're at it. Too many die. All those people? Have families, have loved ones who care very much for them who will never see them again.

That's one hell of a sacrifice and something that touches me on such a deep level, I simply can't explain it. But THANK YOU. To everyone who's served in the military. I may not agree with everything behind the war, but I support those who serve this country. I have nothing but the utmost respect for them and their families, I just wish every single one of them could come home and be with their loved ones once and for all.



What are we doing for Memorial Day? We talked a bit about what the holiday really means, we've shared this with other people and like I said, I watched the videos to make me realize that these are real people out there that are dying for our country.

I also make sure to tell my LJ friend every single year that I think of her brother and that he's a hero, someone I never met but that I will never forget. I urge others to do the same. Reach out to families who have lost veterans and tell them THANK YOU.

Then Kevin and I are going to eat a very late breakfast and snuggle up to watch more Game of Thrones (love it by the way), thankful that we are alive and safe because of the sacrifices of so many people we will never know.

I have a friend from graduate school that was featured in a documentary on National Geographic. They have it on youtube and I would HIGHLY recommend everyone watch it. It's a very interesting view into the world of war.

Here's part 1, the remaining sections can be found on Youtube and it's still played on National Geographic so keep an eye out for it. It's a great documentary.