What Memorial Day Means

Memorial Day Weekend - What does it mean to you? Take time this weekend to think about WHY we have this holiday, not HOW we celebrate.
Memorial Day means a lot of things to different people. It signals the start of summer. It means school is over for some and soon for others. It means  big savings on cars, furniture, appliances, clothes and just about anything and everything. It means camping, boating and barbeques with friends and families.

My personal hope is that we are able to take just a few minutes this weekend and remember WHY we are able to do all those things. Stop for a few minutes to think about those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so we are able to lead our lives free.

Have you ever been to the Idaho Veterans Cemetery? Have you ever been to graveside services of someone who served? Have you ever been to the VA Hospital or VA Home and talked with those men and women and listened to their stories?

My father served in Korea. He was a music teacher when he returned. He taught me to play the trumpet at an early age. When I was a teenager he started taking me to play TAPS with him at the graveside services of men and women who had served.

He took me with him when he would visit those men and women in the VA Hospitals. I didn't fully understand why at the time. I was a teenager. I was more interested in cars, girls and hanging out with my friends.

I grew up in Soda Springs, Idaho - a small town - where everybody knew everybody. When the Vietnam War started up, a few guys I knew (older by 3-5 years) were drafted and shipped off. Two of them didn't come home. I started to grasp reality.

I had to register for the draft, and I remember seeing my birthday scroll across the TV screen when the draft "lottery" was broadcast. For those of you that don't know - they drew dates and gave them a number. For example, the first date drawn could have been July 17th, and that would be "lottery number 1" . Every person that was born on July 17th and eligible for the draft would have to report first. My birthday was number 119.

As the Vietnam War continued I was nearing the end of high school. They were up to number 89. I began to think I was going to follow in the footsteps of my father. However, before I graduated President Nixon started to pull our troops out, and I never had to go.

I've always felt a little guilty because of that. My father served. I had friends serve. I didn't.

When my father passed, I played TAPS at his funeral. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I knew he would have wanted that, and I somehow got through it. Since then, I have played TAPS at several graveside services for Veterans, and members of the military that made the ultimate sacrifice. The photo above was taken at services in Mt. Home for a retired Lt. Col from MHAFB. I feel like playing TAPS is the least I can do to show my appreciation.

So this weekend, while you're boating, camping, shopping, partying and having fun, please take a minute to remember WHY you can do that. If you see someone you know is serving or has served tell them "thank you." They deserve that in the least.

If you have time on Monday, visit the Idaho Veterans Cemetery or any cemetery where you know Veterans are laying in rest. You don't have to know any ONE of the names on the markers. You just have to appreciate them for a few minutes.

If you have an American flag - fly it.

Thanks for taking time to read this. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!
Rich "El Hefe" Summers