It was now a very long time ago. I could not have been older than 4 or 5. My parents took us on a day trip. I couldn’t tell you where it was or the name of the town. I simply remember the reverence with which my father held that trip.
I remember it being a town that harkened back to colonial times and that there was a cemetery there. My dad walked through the headstones stopping at the ones that bore an American Flag. He took the time to read the headstones of which the engravings were still legible. It was the quietest I can ever remember my dad being, as he was a great talker of many things.
Being very young, I did not understand the significance of the flags or my dad taking that time at each headstone bearing one. Then he explained that these headstones were of those that fought in the Revolutionary War. They had fought and sacrificed their lives during the birth of this great country that we were blessed to live in. He shared, that though the war had been fought a very long time ago, because of what they sacrificed and why, they deserved to be remembered and honored.
My father instilled in me that day, and many times after, the love for this beautiful country that I get to live in with the freedom to be and do what I want. He further instilled in me the desire to honor those that have given all that they have to ensure the freedom of those they love as well as those they would never know.
To all who have given everything they had to protect our country’s freedoms as well as to protect those around the world who could not protect themselves, you are remembered and revered. Thank you for all that you gave. Thank you also to those who carry the memory of family members, friends or brothers and sisters in arms. You ensure that they are never forgotten. Yours is an honorable task. They are grateful for it as are we.
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