A Time to Remember
For many, Memorial Day 2012 will be filled with picnics with family and friends, outdoors games, and hunting for the best sales at the malls, discount stores and big box retailers. Memorial Day is much more than overeating, having fun and seeing how much money you can save on the newest technology.
Memorial Day started as a holiday to remember the fallen during the Civil War. It was enacted as an honorable day of remembrance; the Civil War was the bloodiest and most deadly war experienced on our soil. Our new and fragile country was at war with itself.
Expanding the definition of Memorial Day, think about the men and women who put their lives on the line for our country. George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were considered traitors by some. Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman put their lives on the line to make advancements for human rights. Everyday fire fighters, police and military protect our country’s freedom and the safety of its citizens, never knowing if danger is a moment away.
Be reminded of the United States’ tender age. We have made enormous strides in such a short amount of time. Part of the reason for these advances is the courageous people who are willing to stand up and say “this is America and we will not bend.”
The United States needs nurturing and strong people to keep our liberties strong. We should never take our liberties for granted.
