Remembering Memorial Day

For many Americans, Memorial Day is first long weekends of the summer. Friends and families will gather to celebrate with a barbeque. People may take camping trips. Others may elect to use the extra day for a home-improvement project. In Bell County, Memorial Day also coincides with the time-honored tradition of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival.

But lets not get wrapped up in all the celebrations and forget the reason we celebrate Memorial Day; to honor fallen war heroes. This has not ever been a issue in Bell County. People in Bell County have some of the strongest, if not the strongest overall, sense of patriotism I have ever known. This day is, and rightfully should be, sacred to all Americans.

The sentiment I have knowing the sacrifice of my forefathers, relatives, and loved ones can be overwhelming at times. I have sense of pride to know people who have served their country honorably and faithfully. I feel reverence and admiration when I see their names engraved on a stone dedicated to the sacrifice of the few, for the many. Those names, seemingly just inscriptions, are the names of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.

Memorial Day was originally named Decoration Day, because mourners decorated soldiers' graves from the Civil War. Approximately 5,000 mourners, including orphans and widows, placed flowers and flags on the 20,000 Union and Confederate war heroes' graves buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. To show their respect, supporters gathered, recited poems, sang hymns and marched.

However, since the Civil War, there have been many wars since this time. We are still currently at war. There are victims everyday.

No matter your view on war, it is important to honor those soldiers who have paid the ultimate price and honor those who continue to defend us to this day. There have been several occassions where I have seen a man or woman in uniform and I thanked them for their service. Their sacrifice is unlike any other.

So before we light up our grills, get dressed up for the Queen's Coronation, start that do-it-yourself home improvement project, or take our tents out to the camp grounds, let us remember those who died to protect our freedom.

Find a soldier and thank him or her for their service. If you know someone who has been experienced the loss of a loved one serving in the military, offer your condolences and thank them for the sacrifice of their loved one. Mail a simple thank you note to someone serving overseas. They'll appreciate it more than you might think.

And above all else, thank you, veterans for your service and your sacrifice. It will not go unnoticed or unappreciated.