Memorial Day

Monday is Memorial Day. I would like to ask everyone to take a moment away from your "celebration" with barbecues, beer, commercial sales at local malls, parties, vacations and golfing to take a moment to think about what this day truly means. Thanksgiving is a time to pause and give thanks for the things we have. Memorial Day is a time to pause and give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have.

Founding Patriot John Adams wrote: "I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States." And the cost has been incalculable.

Our nation has, time and again, spent its treasure and spilt the blood of its fathers, sons, mothers and daughters not only for liberty at home, but also abroad. Benjamin Franklin noted in 1777 that it should be so: "Our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own." Since the opening salvos of the American Revolution, nearly 1.2 million American Patriots have died in defense of liberty. Additionally, 1.4 million have been wounded in combat, and tens of millions more have served honorably, surviving without physical wounds. These numbers, of course, offer no reckoning of the inestimable value of their service or the sacrifices borne by their families, but we do know that the value of the liberty they have extended to their posterity – to us – is priceless.

"Let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their valor, and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died." --Ronald Reagan at Pointe du Hoc, 1984

When you watch that parade go by, as a sign of respect to our flag, a symbol of freedom whenever it flies please remember what the Flag Code states; Americans should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. Those who are not U.S. citizens should stand at attention. Public Law No: 110-181 (Sec. 594) "Allows members and veterans who are present but not in uniform during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the flag to render the military salute." Feel free to nicely remind those next to you of proper flag etiquette if they forget if not by words, at least by your proper actions.

The flag is flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day. To fly your flag at half-staff, raise it first to peak position, then lower so it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff. At noon, raise it to the peak. The Flag Code also mentions that, if your flag cannot be flown at half staff, you may also affix a streamer of black crepe to the staff immediately below the spearhead of the U.S. flag.