the underappreciated

I think many Memorial Days have come and gone without me thinking very much about how much I owe to others who have gone before me. Granted I know that God is the ultimate source of all good thngs and I thank Him often. At the same time I also know that I have a pretty good life and I owe a lot of it to people who have fought for this country and died in the process. Starting with the Revolutionary War and going all the way through history, much of what I enjoy today and at times take for granted, is possible because of the sacrifice of others.

Recently I spoke at a funeral for a man who was an expert with muzzleloading guns. He was a also a veteran. His request was that muzzle loaders would fire a volley at his gravesite. As I watched the fellows load their guns with black power, patch and ball I thought, "Wars were fought with guns like that." Guys would be standing there loading their guns after every shot, each time taking roughly 40 seconds, and there would be other guys falling beside them, all around them from enemy fire. Many tmes those guys did not want to be in that war, they had families at home, they had a lot to live for but they went to war and fought so I and others could live in freedom. That's amazing when you stop to think about it. I hope you think about it this Memorial Day.

I am going to enjoy celebrating my granddaughter's first birthday on this Memorial Day. I will be able to get into my car, drive 3 1/2 hours into another state without having to answer to anyone. I can travel any time, day or night. I can stop along the way in safety that is almost guaranteed. I can eat, shop, visit a rest stop or stay the night in a motel if I want. No one will harass me. No one will ask me questions. No one will be suspicious of me. I am free. There are many countries in the world where I could not do anything close to that.

Right now there are people from this country fighting a war that some question but ultimately is probably more necessary that people want to admit. Most of the problems in the world are solved by war, unfortunately. People are dying right now in other countries because of the big picture of how important freedom is. Parents and grandparents will remember a loved one who died in this struggle for freedom. So while I'm eating birthday cake, and visiting with family I need to be thankful and remember what Memorial Day means. I hope you will too.