Memorial Day

It means to remember. It means to honor.

Memorial Day is for servicemembers that lost their lives in uniform; remembering them and honoring them. That means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, which means people have opinions on the subject. Should it be a somber day? For some. Should it be a day of celebration? For some others. A day to reflect and remember? If you have someone in your life that was lost while serving, probably.

Like anyone who has served at some point in the last twenty years, I lost people I know. Friends. Co-workers. Compatriots. Acquaintances. I don’t know a single one of them that would have wanted me or anyone else to spend the day sitting in the dark, speaking in hushed tones, lingering over their deaths. Not one. So, for me, I plan on spending Memorial Day doing what they would want me to do; living my life.

I will think of them and remember them. I definitely will. I will also honor what I believe they would want; a happy day. Do what you think your servicemember would want. That’s how I think you should honor them. If that means beer and burgers on the grill, then do it. If they loved music, play their favorite song and play it loud. If it is tipping back a Scotch, then sip in their honor.

Do what you think THEY would want you to do and don’t let anyone tell you different. It isn’t disrespectful to honor them in that way.

Honor their wishes. Honor THEM.