Memorial Day

Like everyone else that I know, I took advantage of the extra day off to visit family, friends, and accomplish a few chores that are difficult to get done throughout the work week.

As I began to wind down for the evening I began to reflect on Memorial Day and what it is meant to be.  I quickly felt guilty for how I had just spent my time.  We have children, and we did nothing to teach them about the meaning of this day.  This started me thinking:

So many people have given their lives for this country.  No paid time off, no complaining because they had to stay past 6:00 PM and rush home so that they didn’t miss [insert activity here], they gave up everything.  Most of us honor them by reveling in our freedom… and maybe that is the best way.  While I enjoy these freedoms, I am going to start behaving differently.  I will spend time on holidays like these honoring the spirit of the occasion, and teaching my children about the meaning of the day.  When I see a uniformed person step off the plane, I will make attempts to thank them for their dedication.  I take my liberties for granted, and while I don’t agree with promoting war and fighting, I do want to be thankful for my liberties.

Many of our employers give us paid time off every year to honor Memorial Day.  They don’t have to do this; in the private sector, employers are not required to operate any differently on this day than any other day of the year.  Since I am getting this free day off, I want to use it effectively.  If you have any ideas on how to make the most of this day, send me a comment.