Honoring Those Who Have Given All They Had To Give
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
A whole lot of years ago, as a high school student in a small, rural, Southwestern Minnesota community I was asked by the local Veterans’ of Foreign Wars to give a speech at their annual Memorial Day celebration. The research done to prepare that speech made a big difference in my understanding of what started the Memorial Day holiday and why it is a lot more than the unofficial start of the summer .
This background piece offers a good explanation on the origins of the Memorial Day Holiday and gives an overview of its purpose. The real meaning of the celebration however requires a lot more than reading an account of where it came from. Reflection on what we have and consideration of those who have sacrificed to make that possible is not something that enough of us do. The families who have lost loved ones in service to their country and those who have served in the nation’s armed forces have a much more direct and realistic vantage point to understand the meaning of what Memorial Day should be.
For those who have not experienced these perspectives we should at least give grateful recognition that there have been those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might have the opportunity for freedoms we certainly don’t pay enough attention to or appreciation for.
Thank you to those who have served and especially for those who gave their lives for our country.
A whole lot of years ago, as a high school student in a small, rural, Southwestern Minnesota community I was asked by the local Veterans’ of Foreign Wars to give a speech at their annual Memorial Day celebration. The research done to prepare that speech made a big difference in my understanding of what started the Memorial Day holiday and why it is a lot more than the unofficial start of the summer .
This background piece offers a good explanation on the origins of the Memorial Day Holiday and gives an overview of its purpose. The real meaning of the celebration however requires a lot more than reading an account of where it came from. Reflection on what we have and consideration of those who have sacrificed to make that possible is not something that enough of us do. The families who have lost loved ones in service to their country and those who have served in the nation’s armed forces have a much more direct and realistic vantage point to understand the meaning of what Memorial Day should be.
For those who have not experienced these perspectives we should at least give grateful recognition that there have been those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might have the opportunity for freedoms we certainly don’t pay enough attention to or appreciation for.
Thank you to those who have served and especially for those who gave their lives for our country.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 5/30/2010 8:34 AM 
Categories: Life In These United States
Tags: Citizenship Memorial Day Armed Service Honor
Categories: Life In These United States
Tags: Citizenship Memorial Day Armed Service Honor
Comments