We Will Owe Them Forever

 

 Most holidays are cause for celebration but not today's.

It's Memorial Day in America.

It commemorates the sacrifice of U.S. military men and women who fought and then died for this country's freedom.

So the last Monday of May, we always honor and mourn those who left American soil to serve in the Armed Forces and defend their country.

They said goodbye to their loved ones with tears, dreams, and hopes, and never returned. 

When we were kids, in our family, our mother had us pile into the car to visit graves of soldiers in the cemetery.

There were always American flags near the graves of  those who served, placed by various service groups. 

Today, a flag flies near my late father's grave, too, as he was in the U.S. Infantry and fought valiantly.  

He was one of the lucky ones who came home.

Seeing so many flags, row after row across the green grass of the cemetery,  gently blowing in the wind, always made my heart terribly sad.

All the agonies suffered in wars, spilled blood, loss of limbs, and eyesight, and yes, bodies blown up and death, were the price they paid for freedom.

We can never take their sacrifices or our freedom for granted.  

Today, we honor and weep for the heroes who gave up their lives so the rest of us could have freedom.

We will owe them forever.