Memorial Weekend, A Remembrance Time.
Memorial Weekend is upon us again, the weather is perfect and Americans will be attending picnics and cookouts. There will be many that will set out toward the lakes, rivers, or beaches, family fun, and laughter. Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, but through the years the true purpose of this national holiday has faded, and most do not even respect the holiday as it was intended. What does Memorial Day truly means, it means some Solider, Marine, Airman, or Sailor lost their life so we could be free to do all the things that we love to do, or don't do the things we do not like to do. FREEDOM is not FREE. It comes at a high cost for many family members that will never see their loved one again.
I am a spouse of a Retired Disabled Army Veteran and I greatly respect all military personnel. My husband was fortunate to return home from Iraq, while others in his unit were not as lucky. He was a Combat Medic and he saw more things than other soldiers, yet he had to remain calm and focus on his duties. As a spouse I became friends with other spouses in my neighborhood and we like all people like to have our cookouts and parties, but to us there was more meaning behind them.
One year it really hit home for me when my former neighbor and very close friend lost her husband in Iraq, just two weeks before heading home to complete his 2nd tour of duty. He had one more patrol to do, and he would be boarding a plane to the in-between place of Kuwait, there he would debrief and relax and become "normal" again before heading back to American soil, back to his family, his wife and four kids. That day did not come for him or his family. He was Killed in Action just hours before his duty ended, his tank hit an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) killing him instantly. March 21,2011 Brandon Hocking perished in a sandy desert far from home.
Brandon, was not only a father, he was a husband, son, brother, friend and solider. he loved his country and choose to fight the war of terrorism for all of us to be continue o be free. When I received the call that nobody wants to receive my heart dropped and I immediately went to her and her family. I could not say that I knew what she was going through because heavens knows I did not, but could imaging the hurt, the sadness and most of all I could imagine the unbelief that was obviously was going through her mind. The "no it cannot be my husband", or "I just spoke with him, he is on his way back", or even, "How do you know for sure it was my husband"? I would have thought the same thing, it would be hard to believe that it was your spouse that had not returned alive from war. it is always someone elses' not someone you know especially "your" husband. Yet, it was her husband, he was gone and he was not returning to her or the children. He was returning in coffin that would be carried by fellow soldiers. A task no one wants I am sure.
See Memorial Day means so much more to me and to her for this very reason. It began with the Revolutionary War, of military dying so he people could be free, and it continues today in the 21st century. I am not opposed to war, nor do I like it; I just know it is a fact of life and without war there would not be order to a sense and without order we have anarchy and that is not good either. So, before you fire up the grill, or drop the boat into the water, remember all those that have died so you could have the freedom to do all these things.
......And keep in mind those idiots, yes I said idiots that burn the American flag, or do not pledge the Allegiance to the flag, or even those that simply do not remove their hats during the time of the National Anthem, or pledge; they ironically have those freedoms because someone fought and some died for that right. This year in particular we to remember the fallen, with the way this country is divided, there isn't any unity. There is a widespread quote that has been said by many, and the originality is unclear, however the meaning is bold, "United we stand, divided we fall." We are headed for another Civil War, history is being erased and statues removed. Keep in mind history class, history repeats itself. I am sadden by the response that this country has had to the United States President Donald Trump, even if you did not vote for him, he still deserves respect because he is the leader of OUR country. There were many that did not want Obama to win, but when he did, the republicans did not cry and throw a fit, we accepted it and went on. Freedom has many faces, and it is all because of those that have given their lives so we may live free.
All Gave Some, but Some Gave All.
Thank You to all that gave their life so I can live mine. (This even includes Jesus Christ)