Remembering

Flag of the United States of America (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Having a dad who served in the Air Force, we were always taught growing up to have the utmost respect, admiration, and gratitude for our armed forces and for those who had sacrificed their time, their families, and their lives to safeguard the freedoms and rights we enjoy as U.S. citizens. We learned flag etiquette, something that is scarce nowadays. We stood when our flag came by at parades and sporting events. We always stood at attention with our hands over our hearts, except for Dad, who has earned the right to salute. We never displayed a fray or dirty flag on our flagpole. Disrespecting the flag was akin to being disrespectful toward our soldiers. It was unpatriotic. I have tried hard to pass these values down to my children.

And Memorial Day has always been about more than barbecues.

I have a wonderful friend, Julia, who is an army wife. She is also a mom and a much better writer than I am. Julia's family used to be stationed in Germany. During a trip to the states to visit her family, she had an experience that she wrote about on her blog, Dibbs on the Gibbs . Her story, Riding With a Soldier also recently was published in the Stars and Stripes! I encourage you to read Julia's story, and remember, and never, never take the sacrifices others have made, which we benefit from, for granted.