Memorial Day

A couple of weeks ago, my son came to me looking for some help with a school assignment. He was to prepare a brief oral presentation on some aspect of his family history. The first thing that came to my mind was his great-grandfather, who had been very proud of his service to the Navy in the European theatre during WWII. To round out his presentation, I had him make a few phone calls to other relatives and ask about other family members who had served. I was astonished by what he discovered. In WWII, our family was represented in every branch of the service in both Europe and the Pacific by six brave men. One great-uncle had survived a German attack on his ship, another survived when his plane was shot down over the Rhine River. After WWII, the tradition continued with an uncle that served in the Marines between the Korean and Vietnam wars. His grandfathers both served during Vietnam, one in the Army in Germany maintaining equipment and the other in the Army National Guard defending college campuses during the many protests. His father served in the Marine Corps reserves and was scheduled for deployment during the Persian Gulf war. Our family was blessed that the "shock and awe" put forth by the troops that went before my husband made his deployment unnecessary. I remember well the preparations that we made and the support we received. Remembering the soldiers in our own family and talking about how important military service is and what it means to us to defend our freedom was one of the most special times I have ever spent with my son. I saw a light in his eyes as he really understood that defending freedom isn't something just for other people in another time. Defending freedom is up to each of us, today and everyday.

In a cause as great as freedom, we are each called into action every day to protect it and to defend it. Some actions are small, like writing to a representative about an issue that concerns you, participating in an event like the Tax Day Tea Parties or taking the time to buy a poppy from a vet and say "Thank You". Other times, the call is huge. I am reminded of the brave souls aboard United Flight 93. They weren't soldiers when they woke up the morning of September 11, 2001, but by lunchtime these 40 or so people would live forever in history as the first to die as heroes in the new War on Terrorism. When awareness of their situation and its probable outcome came to them, they rose up against their cowardly hijackers, refusing to surrender their freedom even in their final moments, and saved an incalculable number of lives in the process. I just can't let Memorial Day pass without remembering the sacrifice made by the passengers and crew of United Flight 93, these heroic citizen-soldiers who answered their call to action that day.

Take some time this Memorial Day to think about the soldiers and defenders of freedom in your own family. Honor them, thank them. If they are no longer with you, think of a way to give honor and thanks to another in their name. One of the best things we can do as citizens is to give our military the very best in the way of equipment, facilities, training, legislative and moral support. Ronald Reagan's concept of Peace through Strength guided our nation to victory and stopped the march of Communism in the Cold War. Our soldiers currently serving in the War on Terror can be victorious with that same guiding concept. I am the mother of a son. I have seen the light of pride in his eyes for the honorable service of his own family. He may be called to his own military service and, if that is his path, I will stand firmly beside him and do all I can do to support him and all the other mothers' sons and daughters in defense of our nation's freedom.

God Bless the USA!