Archives For patriotism

4 simple ways to observe Memorial Day

May 27, 2012 — 7 Comments

Courtesy of Peter Liu Photography

Tomorrow is Memorial Day.

In spite of its seemingly self-explanatory name, this holiday is frequently confused with Veterans Day. While it is completely appropriate to honor all who have served or who are currently serving in our armed forces, Memorial Day is special in that it is set aside to remember the thousands of men and women who have died fighting for our freedom. The history of the holiday dates back to the Civil War, when women and children from both the North and the South decorated the graves of fallen soldiers and commemorated the loss of life.

Though not sanctioned as an official federal holiday until 1967, Memorial Day has evolved into a day that marks the beginning of summer. As such, the purpose of the holiday has unfortunately been overshadowed by backyard barbecues and family get-aways.

President Ronald Reagan once said,

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

This Memorial Day I encourage you to set aside some time to truly reflect on the ultimate sacrifice that has been made by more than a million men and women. Here are four ideas to point you in the right direction:

1. Pray for the families of fallen soldiers. These families have also suffered great loss, and such loss merits an acknowledgement. You might even make a phone call or write a note of gratitude to one such family.

2. Watch a YouTube video about Memorial Day. There are a number of well-done videos, slideshows, and short documentaries that are easily searchable on the web.

3. Attend a parade or special commemoration service. There is usually at least one such event planned in almost every community.

4. Fly the American flag. It seems like such a simple thing, but I’m always moved by the many American flags that show up in various places on Memorial Day weekend.

Whatever we do, we must never forget the sacrifice of our brave men and women.

IT’S YOUR TURN!
How will you observe Memorial Day?

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Today is the day

November 2, 2010 — Leave a comment

I’ve been quiet in blogland for a while. It’s not that I have nothing to say; it’s more that I realize that very few people really care what I have to say. And spending time with my family is more important than firing off my thoughts on whatever grabs my attention. Today though, I will not be silent.

I took a few minutes of my time and cast my votes in the 2010 mid-term election. It truly didn’t take more than 10 minutes, and apart from phone calls, letters, and emails to our elected officials, it’s the ONE thing every one of us can do to make our voices heard. My prayer is that by exercising this right, we can say good-bye to many of those ‘representatives’ who for the past several years have shown an increasing antipathy for ‘We the People’ whose votes put them in places of power. I wouldn’t go so far as to speculate that this election is America’s only hope, because we know that with God all things are possible. However, I do believe that our country is on a trajectory that will lead to absolute ruin — socially, morally, and financially — if some major changes don’t begin to happen quickly.

Still, whether you think like I do — or whether you’re one of the ones who thinks everything in the US is just peachy — I urge you to exercise your right to vote. It’s a right that has been secured by the blood, sweat, and tears of generations of Americans. And it’s a right that, if not protected, might someday be taken away.

I know, you’re just one little person in this big ol’ country. And while that is true, I still believe that one person can make a difference. Regardless of the weather, regardless of your energy level, regardless of the fact that in many cases we really do end up choosing the least stinky of the two or three candidates — get out and vote! Make a difference today.

As Edmund Burke so wisely put it, “The only thing necessary to the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

IT’S YOUR TURN!
Do you still believe that one person makes a difference? Why do you choose to vote — or not vote?

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