A Happy Memorial Day!

Today is Memorial Day. It's a time to reflect on the folks who protect our country, fight for our rights, and ask for very little in return. Way too many lose their life in pursuit of our freedom!


For the last couple of weeks, I have been working as a temp for the USO at our local airport. I have had the pleasure of seeing boys fresh out of boot-camp and on their way to their first assignment. I have talked with the guys on our Honor Guard team who respectfully stay with the body of a fallen soldier as he awaits his final ride home.




We need them.

They need us.

We need you.

It's that simple.

This morning, I went to my office (about the size of a small half-bath) to catch up on paperwork and to make sure there was plenty of food for soldiers returning to base after a long weekend break. There was a young woman in the center who was on the phone every time I passed her. She was dressed in her camouflage uniform with her pants stove-piped into her boots. I figured she was killing time until her next flight.

Then, I heard a commotion outside. Happy exclamations, then a Daddy saying, "I'm so proud of you!" I looked out the door and saw this young soldier scooped up between her Mama and Daddy. I had to close my office door and get myself composed. When I was finally able to walk out, they were gathered just outside my office. I welcomed her home and told the parents how thrilling and emotional it was to witness their reunion. The soldier asked me to take a photo, but her camera was out of batteries. Since I have made a habit of carrying my camera with me everywhere I go, I was able to snap a couple of shots to e-mail to them.

Can you see the joy on the faces of this family? She has a break for a couple of weeks, then back to Afghanistan. I'm so proud of her, too! I will think of this happy moment every Memorial Day!

Who have you been thinking about today?