1,000 Smiles | Day 24 | Memorial Day | Patriot

May 29, 2012 by Deborah

Memorial Day. Smile. Today’s post is actually post- Memorial Day but for me, these times always carry through for the following week of observance. To be thinking of our Men and Women who serve and the sacrifice they make every day – not only them but their families – I cannot turn that switch on for one day only. Of course much fun is to be had with the family barbeque or grilling, enjoying being outside – and who doesn’t love a Memorial Day off?

After a great desert hike we drove through our neighborhood the long way home, just to see if we could spot some flags.

It’s always a fond, comforting feeling of some butterflies inside when I see some major Patriots showing their support on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day brings togetherness. It is one day we can all set aside our differences and truly honor those that have served, and the sacrifices not only they have made, but their families.

My Mother Inlaw being a history teacher, shared that the entire reason Memorial Day came to be – had to do with honoring the dead; their graves.

But in a way I never thought. You see during our early wars, graveyards weren’t developed as they are today. Grounds would settle and the graves were shallow so when rains or storms would come, the bodies would be exposed. This Memorial Day was one in which all the town would come together and give those Patriots a proper and better burial, securing them and decorating the site with flowers. During these Memorial Days would also be new dedications, when the burial site may not have the names of those who died, but areas where a marker would at least represent men from a particular regiment.

I truly cannot imagine the horrors our past men and women must have faced. Yet every war we grow and learn the value of life, and the things worth fighting for. Amazingly, with each war came more women’s rights’ – for in these times it was clear women served many duties that extended outside of the home, while protecting the home! Freedom has never been free, there has always been a great cost. Those who have served our country and serve today understand that precious gift, willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to preserve it for us. I’m glad we have at least one holiday – Memorial Day to show that as a Nation. Smile #24 post Memorial Day and this week – goes to our Blessed Patriots.