Never Forget

The traditional Memorial Day is reserved for a period of reflection and remembrance in honor of those that died while serving in the Armed Forces. It was created after the Civil War as a vehicle to heal the scars of that conflict and the deep divisions that remained.

Today’s Memorial Day is a weekend affair. While it may still include a moment of silence for those that gave their lives, it seems to be more of a salute to the beginning of summer and the recreational offerings provided. Without a doubt, times change and I’d be the last person to ask you to refrain from frivolity in the name of drawn out dwelling on more maudlin subjects.

What I do ask, however, is to consider broadening our scope. Those that gave their lives for this country fully deserve their own day, but I can’t help but wonder about other heroes in our lives that well deserve a moment, too. Some of these folks have passed on and we can only give them a private thought of thanks. But others are still living and I can think of no reason for not including them in our Memorial Day consideration. After all, why must we wait until someone dies before acknowledging their role in our lives?

We’ve all got someone in our past that enjoys a higher echelon of respect and admiration. They may be relatives or friends or bosses or colleagues. Regardless, they all share the fact that they have contributed greatly in our success. So why not remember them along with our military heroes?

The beauty of this proposal lies in the opportunity to reach out and thank someone who richly warrants the praise. Sadly, such conversations are often put off until a eulogy is delivered. Why wait? Recognize that today is fleeting and tomorrow is never guaranteed. Make the call, knock on the door, send that email or text (although I’d say that some sort of oral conversation would be best). What better way to acknowledge all the people, strangers and acquaintances alike, that deserve our thanks? And, what with a three day weekend, there’s plenty of time to add some folks to your list, isn’t there?

Some of us will be drawn to cemeteries to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice made by those dear to our hearts. Others will attend ceremonies to honor our fallen soldiers. These occasions are important and serve to remind us that our freedoms do not come without a cost. There's still ample time left, however, to reach out to the other heroes in our life.

That's it: short and sweet. After all, it’s Memorial Day and I’ve got a few calls to make. How ‘bout you?