Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer. (Daddy never wore his white shoes before this day.) Everyone gathers to have BBQs and sometimes too much to drink. Major businesses have big sales, best time to get new furniture or a new outfit,Sadly Police set up drunk driving hot spots to get those that over-indulgent, but what is this holiday really? It is a day to remember those who died for our freedom, those who fought an enemy we may never know, those who spent years of their lives away from family and loved ones! I was born during the Korean War while my dad, who was lucky enough to be home for my birth, was fighting on foreign soil! I thank him and my Uncle Jim Schneider, Uncle Bob Schneider and so many people who I know that fought in this war as well as the Viet Nam war, and the Iran/Iraq was and now the was in Afghanistan. Back in the beginning of the Viet Nam war I got a metal bracelet with the name Kevin Anderson on it, It was all the rage to have these bracelets with soldiers names on them, Turned out this young man had worked at my local A & P supermarket and sadly died over there. I was devastated as a young girl. I had never really met him but the connection was there… Thank you Kevin Anderson, for your service!! I stop and thank anyone who is in soldier garb for their service whenever I see them.
My only regret on this Memorial Day is that I am not back in NY to lay flowers on my Daddy’s grave, My mom is there also and I wish the same for her. I can only hope that some Boy Scout troop has taken it upon itself to lay flowers or Flags on ALL the graves. I miss you Daddy and thank you for the service to your country! Thank you also to any service member who reads this!! Thank a service member the next time you see them for the freedoms you enjoy!!
