Memorial Day

Monday Music Monologue... God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood - (Make sure you lick on it)

For those of you who have never taken the time to listen to the lyrics of this song, I highly recommend it. For those of you who don't know... here's my story.

Both of my grandfathers served in the military, during war times.

My father served in the military until I was 13 - the original Gulf War. I remember traveling around the country.

I remember babysitting for the kids down the street while their father was stationed overseas, and knowing that my dad could go at any second because he had already been desert trained (even though we were stationed in ALASKA!!). I remember the day Major Arndt came back and we played this song for him at the airport.

I remember meeting friends from all over after traveling, and having those ties strengthened.

I remember the day at BYU in my American Heritage class they played this song. We spent the semester watching and learning about the struggles America has gone through. The last lecture we watched a video montage to this song. All 900 of us took to our feet and sang along, with tears running down our cheeks the entire time.

I remember watching as a member of the reserves brought a little airplane car for the kids to ride on Fourth of July.

I remember my brother signing up for the Army reserves, and the willingness he had to serve the country.

I remember watching my friend Jim go to Iraq, and then his return, and willingness to go again.

I remember being held in an airport for an extra hour over Christmas as I watched a fallen soldier unloaded from a plane in a ceremony unlike anything I had ever seen. I remember listening to a few people grumbling about their delayed flight times, and other passengers telling them to shut up. This was important.

I remember sitting in a terminal, in Houston, and looking up to see a friend of mine from work at Gallup standing over me in her military uniform, insignia, awards, medals and all, and realizing that this was not the same girl I knew before, but a woman, out to be her best for the country and all that she loves.

I remember sitting next to a young man, a soldier, in an airport at Christmas, struggling almost to tears because he had to get back to Okinawa where his ship was docked, and he couldn't get a flight because they were all booked. I remember watching as a man he didn't even know walk up, and offer him his first class seat, no charge, and thank him for serving the country.

Last night I saw a commercial I haven't seen in awhile. And know that I have seen this not just on tv, but also in real life.

Last of all, I remember the wives, children, mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends of these soldiers serving our country, and the sacrifice they make every single day on our behalf.

On this Memorial Day, I wish to thank all of these brave individuals, and the ones who love them. May we remember them, and those soldiers that went before.

We love you, support you, appreciate you, and honor you.