Just got back from the Memorial Day parade. I received an award, on my uncle's behalf, for his service during WWII and for being wounded at Normandy. After the ceremony was over the kids and I were in the parade itself with a bunch of other veterans. Our lineup was led by a recreation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and ended with a Wounded Warrior float. Even with generations of servicemen in my family, to the best of my knowledge, we have never lost a family member in the service of their country.
Some people forget that Memorial Day is to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, not for the living veterans. The ceremony today was about the combat wounded, the ones who paid a steep price but not the ultimate one. Let us not forget them in our prayers but today is about the heroes who laid down their lives for their brothers and sisters.
