Today is Memorial Day.  Millions of Americans will take time to remember and honor the service men and women who died in service to their country. Originally Memorial Day was know as Decoration Day.  It was meant to honor the Union and Confederate Soldiers who died during the American Civil War (1861-1865).  By the 1900s it had become a day to celebrate ALL American soldiers who died in any war while serving in the United States Military.  It wasn’t until 1967 that it was legally named Memorial Day.

Sharon and I seek out different places to go on our morning walks.  A couple of weeks ago we went to the Wildseed Farm just as it opened.  It was early so we were the only ones there except for the workers.  The fields of flowers were breathtaking but what really caught my eye is the monument (my word) they have put up honoring those who have served or are currently serving in the United States Military.  It’s not something I expected to see amidst the wildflowers.  Of course I had to have a picture of it and now I’m glad because I can share it with you.

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Once the Memorial Day celebration (very low key this year for obvious reasons) is over it will be easy to fall back into our routines and the memory of those who sacrificed so much to keep this country safe and allow us to remain free can easily slip to the background in our thinking.  So, I challenge you to make a conscience effort to continue to celebrate the life of those who died for us even after the official day of remembrance is over.

Taking that one step further, do you know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?  Of course you do – one honors the departed while the other honors the living who have served.  Many veterans sport caps depicting the  branch of service in which they served or the war(s) in which they fought.  They are proud of their service as they should be and so should we.

Here’s your second challenge: Tell that veteran you appreciate his/her service. It takes less than two minutes but makes them proud that you recognized and acknowledged their sacrifice.  Watch their face when you speak to them.  You will see expressions from surprise to pride and many more.

GOD Bless You, GOD Bless Veterans and God Bless America