Please Consider Planning (even just a brief!) Actual Memorial Day Tomorrow

We’re looking very forward to trying Pastor Dave and Chris Bentz’s famed BBQ recipe tomorrow. Yum!

But far, far above our lunchtime munchies, our entire family is looking forward to going to our local Memorial Day ceremony. We have already purchased our red, white, and blue flowers and miniature flags to place on our local gravestones. (Did you know Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day?) We have been talking for weeks now about standing in the presence of the flag and never allowing a flag to drape on the ground. We will hear stories of courage and be inspired to live for ideals well beyond our personal comfort. We will shake the hands of WWII veterans and thank them for their service before they are gone.

Sophie just climbed into bed with me and I asked her if there is anything particularly meaningful about Memorial Day for her. She replied:

“When you think about how they sacrificed their lives for our country, our freedoms, the right to be free … how could we NOT go and honor them tomorrow morning?”

Amen, dear one!

So please, friends, consider attending a Memorial Day service tomorrow. There is, I am absolutely sure, one near you. (But there might NOT be in twenty years unless we all take up the mantle.) It may only be 15 minutes long. 30 minutes. Even here in snowy Montana (yes! it’s really snowing here this weekend!), can’t we take 30 minutes to remember those who have died in our country’s service?

Freedom is never free.