Very Grateful for~

God’s gift of courage for some brave soldiers
Memorial Day
Decoration Day
flags in front of houses
wreaths to commemorate heroes
a moment of silence yesterday at church
the quiet standing of veterans
old uniforms
medals from moments
choices made by others that benefit me

“I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.” ~Benjamin Harrison

We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them. ~Francis A. Walker

Yet, we must try to honor them — not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice. ~President Ronald Reagan, Remarks at Memorial Day Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery May 31, 1982