Honoring the Fallen

Dear Jack,

Today is Memorial Day. I never used to really understand what that meant. I kind of lumped it in with Veteran's Day and Labor Day. Like Veteran's Day, I understood it to be a military holiday for my father's generation. Like Labor Day, it marked the season, Labor Day at the end of summer, Memorial Day at the beginning.

These days, Memorial Day is a chance to remember your Uncle James and others like him who have given their lives for our country. No longer unnamed masses of soldiers old enough to be your grandpa, the fallen heroes have a face, his face, and represent husbands and fathers, sons and brothers.

I am sorry it took losing him to understand the price of freedom. I am sorry that he isn't here to receive the thanks in person.

So instead, I dressed you and your sister in proud Army nephew and niece t-shirts and took you to the Memorial Plaza in Georgetown. We stood with other Americans and shared the pride of pledging allegiance to the flag, of singing the national anthem, of gathering together with the like purpose of honoring the fallen.

We honored your Uncle James.

Love,
Mom