Day 659 Honor, Respect and Remember

 

A powerful Memorial Day Ceremony with my friend Krista giving an impactful speech after being the Grand Marshall of our Parade. She flew in just to be with our community for the morning, so our visit was short but meaningful. Her Mom Shelly and I watched Krista go by in the parade with such pride and admiration for how much she's accomplished in memory of her late husband. Michael was killed in 2013 while serving in Afghanistan. Their two boys were only one and three years old at the time of his death, unimaginable to most of us. Krista, determined to keep Michaels memory alive and to support Gold Star families, created The Unquiet Professional, a non- profit dedicated to helping heal the wounds of war. Her speech was every bit as moving as you'd imagine, heartfelt and honest, allowing our community to feel and share in her grief. She spoke about her boys not have memories of their dad, only knowing him by the stories they are told. She spoke of the folks that say thank you for your service to those serving in our Military and said that the best response she's ever heard is, "you're worth it". She wanted everyone to know that we are all worth the sacrifices her family has endured and the only thing she asks in return is that we live our lives to the fullest. It's impossible to know how you'd deal with such a devastating event as losing your spouse to war at such a young age, but Krista embodies everything we would hope to be. She remarried Gus, another Green Beret, who served with Michael and they have honored him each step of the way in their new life. At their wedding there was a photo of Michael with a candle and their boys call him their daddy in heaven and Gus is their daddy on earth. Lucky boys to be surrounded with such love and blessed with two of the best dads any boys could ask for watching over them. Memorial Day to many signifies a day off or a kick off to summer, to others it's the one day our country has set aside to honor and remember those that died while serving this great country. It's not for grandad who served, came home, raised his family and died peacefully surrounded by children and grandchildren, that's Veterans Day. My son served and certainly saw more than his fair share of combat, losing many young friends I think of every day and will hold in my heart forever. I am often horrified at the mattress sales or car sales for Memorial Day, how long will it be before our country holds sales on 9/11? Poor taste at the very least. I guess I'm not as forgiving as my sweet friend Krista, who graciously encourages cookouts and gatherings and only asks that at some point during the day we pause, reflect and remember. I'm sure that everyone who took the time to attend the ceremony and listen to Krista's speech will never forget her words and will never view Memorial Day again without thinking of the young families torn apart by war. Krista's family and mine became akin years ago, connected through service, country, faith and bonds of war, an extended military family that links us together forever. Michael will never be forgotten, through Krista's work, speeches and in backyards across our country. It is humbling to know that there are people we've ever met think we are all worth dying for? I hope to live a life worthy of their sacrifice. No mattress shopping for me, the happy Memorial Day greetings strange, but  I do hold my family a bit closer on the holiday as I think of those that can't. My kids came over later in the day for a cookout, we played yard games and roasted marshmallows in a fire pit, all the Memorial Day festivities happening in backyards across the country, but Michael and the men and women who died in service were never far from our thoughts. Honor, Respect and Remember...with gratitude and admiration, always.