Memorial Day Matters

This Memorial Day Monday morning I’m reminded of a few things of my childhood that I now get to continue with my son.

The Saturday before Memorial Day we’d put out flags with scouts. This was Oliver’s first year and we had long conversations about why we were doing this activity, and why it was important to honor the sacrifices of those brave men and women who served our country and gave their lives to keep us safe at home.

Our pack placed over 2,000 flags to honor those buried at the Nashville National Cemetery.

On a day that normally just marks the beginning of summer for kids around the country, I’m reminded of the trip my family took to our nation’s capitol when I was my son’s age. I have vivid memories of walking around the national mall, seeing all of the monuments, and my dad slowly walking the Vietnam Memorial looking for the names of those he served with.

Periodically he’d find one, put his hand to the name, and breathe a heavy sigh.

That reverence sticks with me. It doesn’t matter whether a war s warranted, justified, or aligns to your personal beliefs. People died for our country and we give respect to their sacrifice and love to the friends and family they left behind.

As our founders said, “in order to form a more perfect union,” I would urge you all to take time and think of ways we can make our union a little more perfect than it was yesterday to honor their sacrifice.

Be kind, give grace, and let love inform your decisions.