Black Oak's Daughter

Today is Memorial Day. Between all the BBQ’s and parties and sales and projects that we’re all trying to cram into the long weekend, take a moment and remember why we have this day.

My family, like so many others, has history in the military. I don’t know anyone that hasn’t had a family member or friend serve this country. Roomie’s dad spent his entire career between the Marines and Dept of State. Two of my uncles were awarded medals for their service in WWII, and a second cousin is buried in the American Cemetery on a hill near Normandy France. My youngest uncle went to Korea. My generation fought in the first Gulf War, my friends James and Ted were there, my best friends sister was also a Marine during that time. My daughter’s generation is over there now in the second one. Hundreds of thousands of our young men have made the decision to leave their lives and fight against the ideas that would threaten our way of life.

Throughout US history, whether the men were volunteers, or whether they were chosen by Selective Service, they put themselves in harms way so that their families, and complete strangers like me can live in a country where we are allowed liberty and freedom to lead meaningful lives without oppression. More than anything else, when you think about America, and the truly beautiful country that it is, think also about the price we’ve paid to keep the basic values that founded this country.

Take a moment and remember the things that we take for granted. Just for a moment, think about what life would be like if no one defended our freedom, if we lived under the same oppression that exists in many other places on the planet. Think about what our lives would be like.

I’m a single mom, with my own house, work a mid-level management job, and have the freedom to pursue anything I feel that I can achieve. There are a lot of places still in the world where I wouldn’t even get past that first statement, much less have the success in life and in business that I’ve worked for all these years. The economy may be rough, the work may be a little harder these days, but the fact remains that I wouldn’t even have a chance if I didn’t live in a country that is founded on freedom where we have the right to pursue anything I want.

That’s what these men and women who put themselves in harm’s way have given me.

Today I’ll take a moment or two, and honor them, in my own way. I hope everyone that lives here does the same.

Comments Off