Imagine you are separated from your family. You're in a different country, unfamiliar to you in every way. You miss your family. You miss their birthdays, and you can't be home for yours. You miss Christmas and Thanksgiving. You never know the next time you can speak with them. You're wearing a uniform, and trudging through miles of perilous grounds. At times you sleep in places you may not be safe in, and you're hungry. Not to mention your life is in constant danger.
And it's your own choice to be there.
Who would choose this life? Our soldiers. And they do it for the honor of our country and the protection of its citizens. If that isn't something to be proud of, I don't know what is.
As Memorial Day approaches, I feel that it is more and more important to stress the devotion of our lost soldiers. Memorial day has become a holiday that has slipped through the cracks, and I wanted to remind readers of why it is important, and why it should be one of the most revered holidays in America. No matter your political preference, or who who you're voting for, Memorial Day is a time that all people can appreciate the men and women who have fought and died for our lives throughout United States' history.
Technically, the definition of Memorial Day is: "A day on which those who died in active military service are remembered." The service men and women who have died in uniform are people who will always be held to the highest honor in the United States. The kind of honor it requires to sacrifice your own life in defense of our country is something that takes a special and incredibly brave person to hold.
I think it is incredibly important to remember the soldiers who are still with us as well. Whether it was the Vietnam War, Korean War, or even the current war, these people had to leave their families as well and sacrifice holidays and time with their loved ones. Every single soldier, no matter how long they served, protected our country and deserves the respect of every American. The bravery required to voluntarily put yourself through a time like this shows a love for our country that cannot be described. All soldiers put their lives on the line, and this courage deserves every ounce of respect that America has to offer, and separating Memorial Day in their memory is the least we can do.
Thank you to every fallen soldier, for the sacrifice you made for our freedom, and thank you to their families for having the strength to carry on and carrying their honorable memory.
