When I think of all the men and women who gave everything to keep me free and to guarantee to me the liberty promised by the Founding Fathers, I wonder how can we all say “Thank You!” in a way that is big enough to cover the gift they’ve given us. The words alone are not enough. The tears and the lump in my throat when I hear the National Anthem are not enough. Saluting the flag during the pledge is not enough. Praying for our soldiers in combat zones is not enough. Thanking our military personnel whenever we see them gets a little closer. Watching out for the widows and orphans of those fallen warriors gets a lot closer.
In the end, it takes all of these things plus getting involved in the political process to try and make sure that none of our swords are drawn except when absolutely necessary and that those swords are sharp as razors when they are drawn. Ronald Reagan hoped that we would never send our military heroes into battle unless we give them all the support they need to win and the authority to get the job done.
Memorial Day is a single day to honor, remember and in some small way to say thank you. We should carry those thoughts with us every day. If we do that and the other things for a lifetime, we might get close to saying thank you enough.
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