Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day has slowly developed into a national holiday for all Americans to remember our fallen soldiers.

The sacrifice and pain of those remaining family members and friends makes this day difficult.

Thank you seems an inadequate response to the pain these family members endure.

Yet, those of us who live under the freedom these heroes provided express our gratitude by honoring those who left their imprint within our country’s history.

From Poets and Poetry of Kansas, edited by Thomas W. Herringshaw (Chicago: American Publishers’ Association) 1894, page 332, the poem “Decoration Day” honors our gallant ones from the home of the brave.

Decoration Day by Frederick B. Hill  Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images Go forth ye brave and gallant men, Ye patriotic noble band, Who shouldered arms and risked your lives To save from foes our noble land. Comrades that fell in that defense,  That in their graves now silent lie; Their gallant deeds and honored names, In patriot hearts will never die. God has decked our land with flowers,  On heroes’ graves should now be spread; By living patriot hands that are, Should be scattered o’er the dead. Ne’er was wrote on history’s page  More gallant deeds by heroes brave, Who fought and bled in freedom’s cause, Our land and liberties to save. Their deeds will still in memory live,  While time shall last or country stand, And men are found truthful and brave, And heaven smiles on freedom’s land. May peace reign o’er our happy land,  While nations live and time shall be, And God be honored by ail men, Loved and adored on land and sea.

Thank you to every soldier who served and who are serving our country. And to all the family members of those who served and are serving, thank you for your sacrifices.

Happy Memorial Day!

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Remembering my Grandpa today and his service to this country, I am thankful for his sacrifice of money, energy, and time.

He could have stayed home and made more money, spent more energy focused on his family, and dedicated more time to my Grandma. However, he served for the freedoms I have today.

To all our former and current military warriors:

Thank you for sacrificing your time and energy to serve my family and the citizens of the United States at home and abroad. Thank you for protecting our freedoms and giving of yourself.

To all former and current military families:

Thank you for your sacrifice through deployments and moves. Your loyalty and unselfishness granted your soldier the freedom to defend our country.

Thank you to all those families whose soldier made the ultimate sacrifice leaving behind heartache and pain. Thank you for loving your soldier while he or she defended the freedoms my family has today.

Saluting all military families on this day of honor and remembrance of all those who served, like my Grandpa.

Happy Memorial Day!

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

To all our former and current military warriors:

Thank you for sacrificing your time and energy to serve my family and the citizens of the United States at home and abroad. Thank you for protecting our freedoms and giving of yourself.

To all former and current military families:

Thank you for your sacrifice through deployments and moves. Your loyalty and unselfishness granted your soldier the freedom to defend our country.

Thank you to all those families whose soldier made the ultimate sacrifice leaving behind heartache and pain. Thank you for loving your soldier while he or she defended the freedoms my family has today.

Saluting all military families on this day of honor and remembrance.

Happy Memorial Day!