Honoring Soldiers

On this Memorial Day, I am struck as never before with the call to duty, honor and country our soldiers fulfill daily.  There is a quote on my son's Facebook page which says, "A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." --Author Unknown

But aside from "the ultimate sacrifice," there are sacrifices made each and every day which should be honored as well.  Sacrifices of time to see children take their first steps or watch their sports activities, holidays missed and shared only through pictures, and simple pleasures like air conditioning and clean sheets.  Sacrifices by the families who struggle with loneliness, have to bear the full burden of parenting and calming children's fears while dealing with their own, and take on extra responsibilities for everything from garbage to car repair.  Sacrifices of mental health and twisted knees which may never heal. 
 
This past weekend, forts all around the country held special services to honor those who died this past year.  Fort Carson had 53 names added to their memorial wall.  That's 53 soldiers just from Fort Carson.  Beyond that, we have literally thousands of families who are separated by deployments from this area alone.  Our own family is separated with a son in Iraq today and more deployments loom in the future.
 
By all means, honor those who died for this country.  But honor those who are living for it, too.
 
Until next time,
Becca