Memorial Day 2013

I sat today to pen my thoughts for this Memorial Day. Instead I stumbled on
a piece written in emissourian.com that captures my feelings. I share it
with you in the hope that you will remember all our brave men and women who
served, continue to serve and especially those who died protecting our
freedom.

Memorial Day will be observed all over America Monday. It's a day when we
remember the sacrifices that men and women made for their country.

Through the observances that are held every year on this day, we reflect on
the men and women who wore, and who today, wear the military uniforms of the
United States. Many are not with us. They died on the fields, seas and skies
in combat in other lands. The ones who survived combat often wonder why they
were spared and others were not. It's a nagging thought and there's never an
explanation.

So many of our veterans have passed on with the passing of time.

Perhaps one of the saddest outcomes of war is that many of our military
personnel were reported missing and later they were listed as presumed dead.
The families of these warriors will never know how or exactly where their
loved ones died.

A group of veterans we must never forget for their sacrifices are the ones
in VA hospitals or rest homes. They survived but they wear the wounds of
battle - never to be the same as they once were.

We honor all veterans, not just the ones who were awarded medals and were
recognized for their valor under fire. There are others for whatever reason
were overlooked and they were never recognized for their heroic deeds in
combat. They were many and their comrades in arms recognize them in thoughts
that never die.

To all of our veterans and to all the veterans' organizations for their
staging of memorial services, our nation remembers the sacrifices. Old
soldiers do die but for generation after generation our thoughts of you do
not fade away. Memorial Day is but one day for special thanksgiving for your
sacrifices. For many, Memorial Day is every day!