Commentary:

Memorial Day

It is Memorial Day in the United States. I had the day off in France due to the coincidental convergence of US Memorial Day with Ascension Day.

Many have written about the meaning of Memorial Day, most from a far better understanding of the sacrifices made that we should remember every day, but on this day more than the others. I will leave it to them to tell of the loss of family members to war, the missing of births and deaths because of deployments, the other forfeitures made in defense of our nation, sometimes for worthwhile causes, sometimes not. Always the oath required that the sacrifice be made without judgment until after service was completed.

It saddens me that many in the United States will not spend this day in remembrance but instead in picnics and other diversions. However, it must be remembered that the sacrifices are made so that we can have the freedom to spend our days free from fear.

Remember those who have given up so much for us, and honor them by participating in our democracy, the ideal that they have sacrificed to defend.