Today is Memorial Day – a day to reflect and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There is a place at the Korean War memorial that says “Freedom is not free” and that harkens to the lives that have been lost fighting for our freedoms.
Sometimes it becomes easy to take advantage or forget how lucky we are for our freedoms. Some may even argue that, in our current political climate, we are lacking freedoms. But the truth is that we are far luckier in America than many others are in other countries and part of that freedom is the freedom to disagree with each other.
Regardless, Memorial Day is not for sales or to celebrate. It’s to take a second or more to remember individuals who are not with their families anymore because they felt a higher calling to protect. So often, nowadays, we get caught up in the sales that may surround a holiday. We look for the good deal that may be offered at a particular store.
Last year one such sale happened, but caused a ripple effect of hurt and anger.
The sale seemed innocent at the outset. It was meant to harken to the traditional phrase said from individuals who are on vacation. It lasted during the entire holiday weekend.
Last year, Old Navy held a “Wish You Were Here” Memorial Day weekend sale.
Wish you were here.
Though it was innocent enough, the timing was terrible and someone in their public relations and marketing departments should have caught how this would have seemed like a slap in the face to the families who have lost a loved one.
There are families who have lost a father or a mother. There are children who wish their moms or dads were there everyday, but they died during their service. There are husbands and wives who have a missing piece of their hearts, gone with their loved ones. Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, all have lost people and they wish they were here.
It is easy to become wrapped up in our own worlds and to focus on our own families and our own family’s problems. We have toddlers and babies that demand our focus. We have children who may have just finished or are about to finish their school year and be out for the summer, and we are trying to figure out activities for them. We have our busy lives of work and school and cooking and cleaning.
We have all of that thanks to the men and women who fought for our country.
Let me pose a thought to you. What do you think our world would be like if men and women hadn’t fought, in spite of the known risks, at the Battle of Midway or on D-Day? Would America be split between the Germans and the Japanese like in Man in the High Castle? Would our country have Jewish or Muslim citizens? What do you think our world would be like if we didn’t have men and women who enlisted after the attacks on our country on September 11, 2001? Would we have had more attacks? Would we be living in fear of when the next terrorist attack would occur?
Freedom is not free. It’s never free. Men and women go willingly to battle for our freedoms. Today, enjoy the pool, cook a burger or a brat, and spend some time sending up a prayer and thought of thanks for the families who are spending today mourning the loss of their loved one. Spend some time thanking the individual who fought for your freedom. Your freedom to agree, to disagree, to want more for our future, and our freedom to be Americans – a country that so many wish to come to and a nationality that so many wish to become.