This coming Monday is Memorial Day, a day many Americans view as just another holiday; a day marking the start of summer; a day off for parades, BBQs and gatherings with family and neighbors.
But Memorial Day is so much more than that. It is a day to remember and honor those Americans who did not come back from our wars. It is a day when all of us should pause, observe a moment of silence, and reflect on the sacrifices that so many Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coasties made to defend our freedoms and way of life.
Many Veterans lost friends and teammates on their combat deployments. For these great Americans, it is a solemn day of remembrance; for many it is a day of reliving a profoundly difficult time in their lives.
So this Memorial Day, enjoy the time off and BBQs with friends and family, but take a moment to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy each day, and think about the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure those freedoms. You can know that is exactly what many of our Veterans will be doing.