Today is Memorial Day.
Here in the United States of America, it’s often celebrated as the unofficial start of summer. The school year is ending for most kids. Pools, beaches, and theme parks are opening full-time. And most start planning ambitious vacations.
But the true heart of this day has always been about military veterans and honoring their service. As someone who has multiple relatives who served, as well as grandparents who fought in major wars, it’s certainly a day worth cherishing.
In recent years, the many issues veterans face has become more relevant. Beyond the immense physical and mental toll that comes with war, the sacrifice they make to serve is not to be taken lightly. Just look up the training that’s demanded of them. Look up what they have to endure before they ever venture near a war zone.
Whether they serve in the army, navy, marines, air force, or coast guard, the demands we put on them are high. And the debt we, as a country, incur for their service is far higher. And sadly, we don’t always honor those debts as well as we should.
There’s certainly a larger discussion to be had about how we treat and care for our veterans, especially those who have suffered serious injury from their service. But today, let’s take a moment to simply acknowledge and thank these remarkable individuals for what they do.
They chose to serve their country.
They chose to put their bodies, their minds, and their hearts on the line for others.
They committed themselves to a standard and an idea that embodies the best this country has to offer.
Let’s celebrate them. Let’s honor them.
If you can, please consider donating to a major military charity. Or volunteer to assist a veteran or organization.
They gave all of themselves to this country so that we could continue to survive and prosper. Let’s use today to return the favor.
Happy Memorial Day!
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