Memorial Day Thoughts

This weekend we are celebrating Memorial Day in the United States. This holiday is designed to remember those members of the armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in combat. For me, this is a good time to study past events and remember those who are slipping through the cracks of time, as well as what they fought and died for.

History is something that I have always been interested in. I’m no expert, but reading and learning about things of the past fascinates and inspires me. There are so many lessons to be learned from those who have gone before.

Memorial Day is about remembering those who sacrificed themselves so that I can enjoy the freedoms that I’ve always known. Freedom is not free. It never has been and it never will be. The least I can do is remember those who have fought for me, even if they didn’t know me personally.

Today I plan to visit some local history sites to better connect with some of these individuals. If I can find a list of names to take along and read over as I’m sitting in meditation, I will do so. To me it may just be a name, but to that person and his or her family, that name was a lot more. Even if I have nothing more than that name and the images that my own mind creates, that’s still something.

It’s important to remember and share the stories of those who have gone before us. Because it we don’t, who will?