Tomorrow is Memorial Day here in the U.S., and contrary to what you will see on the television (if you haven’t thrown a brick through the “idiot box” yet) it was not originally meant to be about car sales, appliance sales, and high gas prices.  It wasn’t even meant to be about cooking out and drinking beer on the porch or deck, although at least that is a tad closer being favorite scheduled activities on the duty calendar.

Memorial Day is all about remembering and honoring the military members who fell in service to their country.  As someone who came out of a warzone in one piece, I know I have a lot to be grateful for … and that others were not as lucky.  My team was tented next to a CSH in Kuwait for a few weeks (CSH=Combat Support Hospital) and once the troops jumped the berm we saw the med-evac helicopters flying in the wounded and dying.

So tomorrow, while turning down the volume on those obnoxiously loud televison commercials; grilling up hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, ribs, or maybe steaks (if you can find that on sale); and tossing back a beer or two while watching the sun set be sure to spare a thought or two for the honored dead from our military forces, and raise your glass (or can, or bottle) in salute to both the living and the dead in our military at home or overseas.

It’s the least we can do.