Like any self-respecting American, I enjoy a hamburger and cold beer while lounging by the pool on a day which I would otherwise be working. But do we ever stop to think of the gravity of Memorial Day? Seldom do I see people who don’t come from military families understand the depth of what Memorial Day stands for - frequently, Memorial Day is simply depicted as the “official kickoff of summer.”

Some quick history: in 1868, General John Logan officially declared May 30 to be a day “for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion."� By 1967, “decoration day” became what we know as Memorial Day.

Think about how infrequently people pay their respects to fallen soldiers. We see videos on social media of soldiers reuniting with their spouse/children/dogs after deployment, and they’re all beautiful and complete tear-jerkers. But do we ever see videos of a distraught father telling his daughter that mommy isn’t coming home? Ever see a reenactment of a wife answering the door for two somber-looking uniformed servicemen, who came to deliver the news that one of their comrades had fallen in battle? Heck, how often do you see military tribute videos that mention casualties?

So sure, indulging in some summer fun with friends and family is a great thing to do on Memorial Day weekend. There’s no shame in it!

Barbecue with your family, but remember the 1,100,000-plus American soldiers who died in war and consequently left their families behind.

Shoot off fireworks with your friends, but consider the soldiers who are more accustomed to the bang of an explosive and the flash of fire than they should be.

Go to the beach and soak up the sun; while it’s a peaceful place for you, the beach was a resting place for American G.I.s during the Battle of Buna-Gona.

Take a moment at three p.m. on Memorial Day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in defense of our country.

Memorial Day is a great time to enjoy a day off work, a barbecue, the beach and some good company. Don’t forget the true meaning behind Memorial Day, though, and spare a thought for the soldiers who gave their lives so you can spend the day relaxing and celebrating.