On this Memorial Day

Today I remember and thank my grandfather, my father and his fellow EMS Boys, Jeff Gloede, Jason Farris, Aaron Holker, Ben Blass, Dwight Julbert, Gerry Williams, Bill Justice, Matt Simmons and Jake Thomas ... our family and friends who are active and retired members of the military.

Amelia broke out the red, white and blue in honor of your sacrifices and your service.

"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our minds as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember."

Ronald Reagan: Arlington National Cemetery, 1985

I know that Memorial Day specifically honors those who have died in service to our country. However, I take this opportunity to acknowledge not only those men and women, but all members of the military. I don't feel as though we recognize them often enough, as a country. So please forgive me for taking a little liberty.