Increasingly the wars that America is fighting occur in remote lands for reasons that are less clear, that involve a small group of Americans and their families who serve and sacrifice so the rest of us can be free.
As we look around the globe, conflict and war seems worse than ever. How blessed we are to live in a country where we have so many freedoms and have been given so much.
Memorial Day increasingly seems a time for barbecues and shopping for the majority of Americans. As we were walking through downtown Sarasota, a man approached Jim and I and offered us an American flag. He was handing them out to people in preparation for Memorial Day.
We were struck by the fact that in our small town (54,000 inhabitants) flags are planted around the city, adorn cars and are held proudly by the citizens who line the streets for one of the local parades.
In a big metropolis, like Los Angeles, Memorial Day felt less personal.
Perhaps it is because Sarasota has an older demographic and there are veterans and seniors who have first hand memories of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in World War 2. That war touched the lives of most Americans, the cause was clear and everyone was invested.
Today let us give thanks for all we have and take a moment to honor the courageous men and women who fought for and continue to fight for our freedom.
Here is a link to a wonderful article about the true meaning of this important American holiday. I encourage you to read it.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/05/25/remembering-meaning-memorial-day1.html