I wanted to wish you all a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.
Memorial Day has always been a special holiday to me since I was born on Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day (May 30) before we started celebrating on the last Monday of May; prior to 1971 it was always celebrated on May 30.
My grandfather, who was a WWII veteran shot while on Iwo Jima, always told me they had parades for people born on May 30. He always said I was special and would do great things because in his opinion, I was born on the most sacred day of the year.
It wasn’t until some years later that I really discovered the meaning behind Memorial Day.
Of course I knew what it was for, but I went to the National Cemetery with my grandfather for a Memorial Day ceremony and had the honor of meeting the Gold Star Families (people that experienced the death of family members in service to our Country). As I watched my grandfather speak to each family represented, it was pretty amazing.
I mentioned my grandfather was shot on Iwo Jima. He never would speak of the experience no matter how many times I asked him. I used to go see him on Sunday mornings while the other family members were at church. One Sunday just a few years before his death, he tossed me his purple heart, told me to come with him, and we sat on his porch while he spoke for nearly three hours about his days on Iwo Jima. I learned he was shot while dragging his dead friend back to the beach (Marines don’t leave anyone behind) in one of the many battles on that Pacific Island. I heard the horrors he saw while in battle and watched my grandfather contort as he spoke about things he had not spoken about in nearly 60 years. He then stood up, patted me on the shoulder, went inside, and never spoke of it again. It was that day I really realized what kind of sacrifice men and women have made so we can enjoy our Memorial Day.
We live in the greatest country on earth. We get to spend a long weekend and many of us will spend it relaxing with our friends and families at BBQ s, on the water, or doing whatever it is we enjoy doing. We should never forget what this day is all about. It is about honoring the Americans that have spilled their blood to make this the greatest country in the world.
Tony Sanders
Soddy Daisy