It's the unofficial start of the Summer and a bit of a sad day at the same time. Cemeteries will be full of people paying their respects, beaches will be full of sun worshipers and millions of hamburgers will sizzle on millions of grills. Have a nice, fun and safe weekend everyone.
This is a day to remember not those of us who served and are here, but the ones who perished defending our country. To the fallen....
I would also like to acknowledge the homeless Veteran population among Who served dutifully, and for whatever reason, find themselves homeless. As many of us will spend time with family and friends enjoying things like hamburgers and hot dogs and other such niceties, they will not. Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs May they be warm when it's cold, and may they have food in their belly when they are hungry.
A few years ago, our small travel group had individual meetings with a shaman in Kyzyl, Tuva. He started out saying that I had not properly honored my late father, a Navy veteran, and that I should pay respects in the Tuvan manner by pouring milk onto his grave, which he said was near a large body of water. What the heck. Nothing to lose. Last Memorial Day I went to his grave, in Redondo Beach, California, with a jar of milk, and paid respect. Is my father better off? Am I? Will I ever know? It felt good to do.