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Memorial Day - A Test of Freedom
By Administrator | May 28, 2007
Today we remember those who have fallen in military service to our country. Dating back to the Civil War era of the 1860s, Memorial Day has become more well-known to many modern Americans as the official start to the summer season: a time for beer, barbecue, and the Indy 500. My own thoughts of the day probably fall somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. My husband and I tend to “celebrate” this weekend as a time of relaxation after a long period of work without holidays, though we aren’t really big on the beer, barbecue, and racing. Yet I also remember our veterans today; especially my cousin, a member of the USMC, who died in Vietnam back in 1969.
This year, Memorial Day also serves as another test of freedom to some Americans. The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs has finally added the Wiccan pentacle to a list of religious symbols to be allowed on veterans grave markers. This comes as welcome news to many families who’d been denied the comfort of their religion after the death of their loved one. A ceremony will be held to dedicate new markers and one of the attendees of the dedication will be a woman from nearby Fernley, Nevada, whose husband died in Afghanistan in 2005. While two years is a long time to wait for this type of closure, other families may have waited longer, and I send my best wishes to all those who will now gain the small measure of peace.
This is what our country is all about and this is why today we honor the men and women of the military who’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice. The United States may not be perfect, but we’ve still got the best system of government around. Please take a moment to remember our nation’s finest today, no matter how you choose to celebrate.
Topics: Holiday Greetings |
