My personal little Memorial Day rant

[TEAK]

I just want to start this off by sending out the biggest most heartfelt thank you to all of those brave men and women that left their lives and families behind to go and defend this great nation. To those that have come home, those still pressing the fight and those who never made it back: from the bottom of my humble and grateful heat I say THANK YOU!
I have a bit of a rant on this subject that I want to let fly for a min. First I have to preface this by saying I have a cousin who I grew up with that is like a younger brother to me who is on his second tour in Iraq as we speak. The Marines volunteered him for his first trip and he volunteered for his second.
Now to get up on my soapbox!
What really pisses me off about people today is they are more concerned with how they should be off for the holiday instead of taking just a minute to think about the men and women that that this day was created to honor. The men and women who are away from their families for holidays, birthdays, births and deaths sleeping in tents in the middle of the desert. Some only boys barely out of high school and some proud grandparents. This pure outright disrespect just makes me sick deep down in the pit of my stomach.
Yeah Im stuck at work wishing I was with my friends at the lake house playing on the boat and cooking on the grill but I have to think about people like my cousin. People like my buddy Tom who is 21 years old who left half way through his sophomore year of college to go over seas and fight without question. Those guys would love to be at the lake even more than I and in my eyes they deserve it a million times more that i do but they have even less opportunity than me. I can take off and go next weekend but they don't have that luxury.
Im not condemning anyone for enjoying their weekend, in fact I am really saying the exact opposite. Go enjoy your long weekend or your day off. Spend time with your friends and family and enjoy the BBQ and libations that is what those brave people fought and died for: your freedom to do as you please how you please! But take a moment to remember why you have the day off and those that gave you that freedom.
I'll get off my box now. It just makes me sad to see that our society has degraded to this state. In my eyes Memorial Day and Veterans Day are two of the most important holidays our country has. So on these most auspicious of days take the time out to shake the hand of a vet or check in on that young mother with her newborn child whose husband is off in some place she doesn't even know. Remember fellas that these are the guys who give us the freedom to drink a cold beer and cook a rack of ribs on what is usually a work day. They give us the opportunity to spend freely on the watches, cigars, Bourbon, fast women and what ever else we want to spend our money on.
So again I just want to say thanks boys and girls, men and women for all that you did, do and will do in the future. My hat is off to you!
Sorry for the ramble guys, this is just one of the tings that flips my switch!

[taltos]

Thank you for your comments. It would be nice if folks could take 30 seconds from selecting a cigar or a beer to remember the veterans who never came home.

[Ace$nyper]

Well said, I'm having a BBQ tommorow all my vet friends are invited, and I can't wait to see my one friend who just got state side last week.

As much as I think we should do more, I step back and think... we don't have to, as selfish as that sounds, that means the ones out there are doing their job it's our day off and we have the freedom to do what they want. I sure want to let them know I'm thankful for that not just one day but everyday!

[68TriShield]

I think about our Soldiers,Sailors,Airmen,Marines and Coast Guard every day.Without fail,everyone should....

[RevSmoke]

Always go to a Memorial Day Ceremony somewhere - they have a decent one right here in Embarrass. Oldest will be in the Jr. High marching band this year. I was chaplain for the event last year.

Yes, thank you to all the men and women who have served and to those who still are.

Todd

[CobraSkip]

Here Here!

[lightning9191]

I think about our service members of past and present today and the rest of the year. Every time I say the Pledge of Allegiance or see our flag I can't help but think of all of the sacrifices that have made our nation so great!