The Ultimate Sacrifice~

Good evening readers; I hope you all are doing well this evening. Today we celebrate Memorial Day, a day that is set aside to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, though all gave some, some gave their all! That is a quote I do not take credit for, the origin is from Howard William Osterkamp.I always found that quote to speak such volumes to what our service men and woman have done for us. Those few short words have such profound meaning behind them.

  Today was more than having a day off from work, or school. It’s more than the BBQs you attend with family and friends. Its day for reflection.  a day of Remembrance. Yes it s a day to thank all who served our country so willingly, but the main reason we celebrate this day is to remember the fallen Hero’s, to pray our respects to all of them. I know today is very difficult for those families who have lost family members in war, those families made sacrifices too.

Because of those sacrifices, we have the freedoms we do, which so many take for granted. Freedom is not free, there is a price to pay, but we so quickly forget at times, what they put on the line for us.

Tonight my husband and I took our evening walk after dinner, it was so beautiful out, there was a gentle breeze and it was nice to just talk and reflect on the day. We walked around our normal route and got up to the church green, as we approached the small memorial up there we saw a family there a mom, dad and two small boys about 5 and 7 years old if that.

   They were walking around the fountain and then stopped at the memorial; don and I were on the other side of the walkway. We then saw them go into the area where the memorial was and all the names, they all gathered around it the 4 of them, I told don,  as I was enjoying the pretty fountain, that I didn’t want to bother them, but give them the respect and privacy they needed. I then saw the little boy go up to the memorial and put his arms around it, then his brother took off his hat and started crying. I was doing all I could to fight back my own tears. Then I saw this family get on their knees and pay their respects, we figured they must of lost someone close to them. It was a beautiful, but sad moment; it really puts things in perspective.

  A day to Remember, a day to honor and salute the fallen, those men and those women are the true heroes. Men and woman that would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Makes me think of the Scripture John 15:13 there is no GREATER LOVE than to lay down one’s life for ones friends. Thank you does not seem to be enough. Knowing every solider that goes to battle puts their lives on the line to defend this country. So remember that every day you wake up and see the morning sun through your window, every day, you can worship God freely, every day, you go work and go to school,  you are there because someone paid the ultimate sacrifice for you! Thank you does not seem enough does it. I will not forget those who gave that right to me!