It is that time of year again.  Time to honor those that have served with the ultimate price of their lives to defend our freedoms and keep us safe.  Time to remember family members who gave all defending those that couldn’t defend themselves.

Each year about a week before Memorial Day, I begin seeing posts on Facebook about what Memorial Day is really all about. I watch beautiful videos of Arlington and The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I hear people talking about their plans for the long weekend. Trips to the beach, cook-outs with family, or just another day to not have to work.

I see people get upset by those who don’t really know what Memorial Day is or just don’t care to know.  I have felt the same way when people make no acknowledgement to those men and women who gave their lives for us.  I decided to research Memorial Day in the book I go to when I don’t understand something; The Bible.

In Exodus 12:14 we read, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.” Throughout the Bible there are many times that God instructed His people to make a monument or have a special feast.  It was to remind them and all generations to come what God had delivered them from and all that He had done for them.

Now, I am not comparing our military to God, but they do have one similarity.  They both (Christ and our Soldiers) died for our freedom.  One for our spiritual, eternal freedom and the others for our personal, earthly freedoms. I think they deserve our respect.

I, like many, work in retail and will be working part of the 3-day weekend. I will be working in an air conditioned store and wearing clean, dry clothes. I will take care of grumpy customers and kind customers. I will wear the poppy that is being handed to shoppers at the front door. I will wear a smile and my heart will cry each time I see a Veteran. I will think of my Grandpa and sister-in-law who served and are no longer with us. No one will be attempting to kill me or my fellow associates.  I won’t have to be mindful of a possible IED as I walk through the parking lot to my car.  When my shift is done, I will drive home to my family.  They will be waiting for me in our air conditioned home, with real beds and real showers.

The men and women that we honor each Memorial Day worked in deplorable conditions, slept in fox holes, ate meals most of us would turn our noses at, and all this while fighting a real battle. The majority of them, when their “shift” was done, came home to their families in a box draped with a United States Flag.  Far too many, never came home at all.

So, it doesn’t matter if you celebrate with a cook-out with family, going to a War Memorial, visiting a Military Cemetery, or work. But, do this one small thing for those that provided you the opportunity to celebrate how you see fit; stop for a moment and REALLY think about the sacrifice of so many that you never knew. Fly your flag, say a prayer for the families whose loved-one is no longer with them. Teach your children what Memorial Day is all about. Show some respect, educate yourself and others, and be grateful for those that gave their all for our great country.