Honoring our veterans

Today I took a dear friend who is a Viet Nam veteran (Marine)to lunch. We didn't talk about the war but spent most of the time catching up on family and personal matters. I could have attended one of many Veteran's Day ceremonies throughout the city like I did last year, but today I wanted to personalize it. It's not too late to do something to honor a vet today. Attend a memorial event, surprise her/him with a treat, thank them, say a prayer.

On another matter germaine to the day, why do government employees get a holiday, but veterans go to work? Why is this not a national holiday like Memorial Day?

What Memorial Day Really Means

My dad served in the US Air Force just as WWII ended. He didn't speak much about his days in the military, but it was how he lived, how he and mom raised our family, how he served his church and community that I also honor on Memorial Day. A friend sent this piece about what we owe our veterans. Thank you, Dad and all past and present verterans for giving us so much that we often take for granted.

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag.