***image1***We have three special days each year specifically set aside to honor veterans and pay respect to our comrades in arms – Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day.
Sadly, we too often overlook these opportunities to honor our heroes. Sometimes we are our own worse enemy. These three days were established to honor both serving military, and those heroes who have gone before us. They are intended to allow a grateful nation to express its sentiments and appreciation. So what does it say of us when we brush this honor aside?
I recognize that today our lives are more complicated and busier than ever. It’s sometimes easier to find forgiveness for not making it out to the veterans’ cemetery last Memorial Monday. We have so much going on in our lives these days – school getting out, visiting relatives, graduations and any number of other competing priorities. After all, who of us are not grateful for a day off, a chance to sleep in, fire up the grill, catch a new summer blockbuster and recharge our batteries?
And what of Armed Forces Day the week before … who even knows what that is all about anyway? In 1950, President Harry S. Truman spearheaded efforts to set aside a single holiday when Americans could gather and collectively thank our military personnel for their service to the nation. Okay. I’ll grant you that these days, there is a generous outpouring of support and gratitude ranging from yellow ribbons to bumper stickers and welcome home parades for returning combat troops. I understand.
Then there is that third special day, Veterans Day in November – another Monday that we get off of work. On this special day, we honor the day, 90 years ago when, on the 11th hour, the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent. We will, no doubt, gladly take the much-needed time off.
But what of the ‘other’ special day set aside for the most important
veteran among us? This old warrior was there while we slept in, grilled out back and enjoyed time with our friends and family. Each year, June 14 is set aside to honor this brave veteran – a faithful comrade who has accompanied each of us, and every serviceperson before us, to stations and battlefields in virtually every corner of the globe.
For more than two centuries, this veteran has always been faithful and is always ready for a parade. Our friend was there at the cemetery Memorial Day when we were not. Not to fret, he was also present, accounted for and standing tall on Armed Forces Day. In fact, our friend is always there, despite being often overlooked and taken for granted.
Of course I am speaking of Old Glory, our flag. Always faithful and decked out in full glorious parade dress uniform, our friend has guided and comforted countless of our comrades in arms. No doubt each of us can recall an example of our friend being present and evoking emotion in each of our lives. Perhaps in a parade, a funeral, on the battlefield, the tail of an aircraft or over an embassy in a foreign land … our friend is always there and loves to be on parade!
So, I ask you, on Saturday – Flag Day – hoist Old Glory up, salute and give our old friend the respect and recognition it deserves.
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***image1***We have three special days each year specifically set aside to honor veterans and pay respect to our comrades in arms – Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day.
Sadly, we too often overlook these opportunities to honor our heroes. Sometimes we are our own worse enemy. These three days were established to honor both serving military, and those heroes who have gone before us. They are intended to allow a grateful nation to express its sentiments and appreciation. So what does it say of us when we brush this honor aside?
I recognize that today our lives are more complicated and busier than ever. It’s sometimes easier to find forgiveness for not making it out to the veterans’ cemetery last Memorial Monday. We have so much going on in our lives these days – school getting out, visiting relatives, graduations and any number of other competing priorities. After all, who of us are not grateful for a day off, a chance to sleep in, fire up the grill, catch a new summer blockbuster and recharge our batteries?
And what of Armed Forces Day the week before … who even knows what that is all about anyway? In 1950, President Harry S. Truman spearheaded efforts to set aside a single holiday when Americans could gather and collectively thank our military personnel for their service to the nation. Okay. I’ll grant you that these days, there is a generous outpouring of support and gratitude ranging from yellow ribbons to bumper stickers and welcome home parades for returning combat troops. I understand.
Then there is that third special day, Veterans Day in November – another Monday that we get off of work. On this special day, we honor the day, 90 years ago when, on the 11th hour, the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent. We will, no doubt, gladly take the much-needed time off.
But what of the ‘other’ special day set aside for the most important
veteran among us? This old warrior was there while we slept in, grilled out back and enjoyed time with our friends and family. Each year, June 14 is set aside to honor this brave veteran – a faithful comrade who has accompanied each of us, and every serviceperson before us, to stations and battlefields in virtually every corner of the globe.
For more than two centuries, this veteran has always been faithful and is always ready for a parade. Our friend was there at the cemetery Memorial Day when we were not. Not to fret, he was also present, accounted for and standing tall on Armed Forces Day. In fact, our friend is always there, despite being often overlooked and taken for granted.
Of course I am speaking of Old Glory, our flag. Always faithful and decked out in full glorious parade dress uniform, our friend has guided and comforted countless of our comrades in arms. No doubt each of us can recall an example of our friend being present and evoking emotion in each of our lives. Perhaps in a parade, a funeral, on the battlefield, the tail of an aircraft or over an embassy in a foreign land … our friend is always there and loves to be on parade!
So, I ask you, on Saturday – Flag Day – hoist Old Glory up, salute and give our old friend the respect and recognition it deserves.