Today is a bank and market holiday in the USA. It is when we remember our loved ones who have passed away and honor those who lost their lives in the service of our country. It is our custom to visit the cemeteries where the remains of our loved ones are kept. We clean and decorate the grave sites and often leave flowers or other remembrances. If they served in the Armed Forces, the grave is also marked with a flag.
We joined with millions of others and provided that service to our family. We cleaned the head stone and left flowers for our son Dalen who died when he was a small child. We did it for my wife Joyce's father and his parents. We remembered and we cried a bit.
It is our privilege in the USA to agree or disagree with the government when it wages war. Regardless of the rightness of the cause, millions of men and women have faithfully served this country and have given their lives at the call of their country. Today, I wish to thank them. For all those who served and were not required to give the ultimate sacrifice, I thank you as well. My father and oldest brother are among that group. I honor them for their service.
Whatever your religious belief, I hope you will join in a moment of prayer or reflection in the hope that our political leaders may be inspired and that peace, justice and mercy may hold sway among us. Thank you for joining with me in this hope.
Larry Stay
Unfortunately, I fear that today's Iraq has degenerated into yesterday's Vietnam, but I'll join you in that prayer for peace (and the wisdom to act decisively upon it, granted any reasonable opportunity to do so).
Posted by: Bob Hansell | May 30, 2006 3:03 AM | Permalink to Comment