Memorial Day: This year will be different

What are you doing this Memorial Day weekend? Going to the lake? Hosting a barbecue? Watching the Indy 500? Playing a round at The Duke? Heading to Mexico to “celebrate?”

How good do we have it here in Maricopa, in America? How appreciative are we for that? Or, maybe the question is, by how much do we take it for granted?

I have to admit that I, like many of my generation, have taken for granted the men and women who have given their lives while serving in the armed forces. That sacrifice is compounded when one thinks of the impact those deaths have on the families of those heroes.

This year’s going to be different, however. I’m going to start a new tradition of being more cognizant of why we have an extended weekend to relax, play and travel: To honor the men and women of the armed forces who died defending our great nation.

Join me. Say a prayer for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today. Make a donation to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Write a letter to the family of a fallen soldier. Contribute some goodies or postage to Herb Bailey’s effort to send care packages to Maricopa troops overseas (see “Christmas tip: “Help Bailey fill and send his boxes”). Proudly wave your American flag. Let’s do something – in addition to barbeque.

Get involved:
How does your family celebrate Memorial Day? Do you have traditions designed to honor fallen men and women? Share your ideas and read those of others by clicking here.

Have an opinion you’d like to share with Maricopa? Please email it and any applicable photos to [email protected] for consideration. For more details, click here.
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