Memorial Day ... Remembering ...

In 1865, a group gathered in Charleston, South Carolina at Washington Race Course to celebrate Decoration Day. It was a way to remember the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. Today, we call this day Memorial Day, and it is a day of honor for all of those of the U.S. military who have been lost in the line of duty.

The traditional Memorial day festivities are family, barbecue and the opening of the local municipal pool. At one time, however, this was a more solemn day of grave visitation and rememberance of lost lives.

America has seen a  great deal of war. We forget most of this, due to the distance in time. The revolution, the civil war and even WWI are too far in our history to be real. More recently, WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam are reminders of our true vulnerability and are still fresh on the lips of a scarred generation. We remember these men and women who fought for not only our nation, but for the freedom of the entire world.

Now we find ourselves at war again. Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya are all reminders of what still looms. Today we have thousands of new lives to remember. Those who were called to God while fighting against tyrants and terrorists. We also remember those lives lost innocently in the World Trade Center a decade ago. Memorial Day, for many, is a day of prayer, silence and of stories of their children, brothers, fathers and sisters. This is the heart of the annual observance.

Between bites of bratwurst and laps around the lake, I hope everyone remembered those who have given their lives, and those from whom life was brutally taken. That is what Memorial Day is about -- for them.