As Memorial Day quickly approaches, I find myself thinking about what the holiday truly means. In our every day hustle and bustle, we seem to forget the importance of recognizing those who have volunteered to keep our country safe.
In my job as a golf course and swim club manager, Memorial Day is a big deal! It's our opening weekend for the pool and we spend a lot of time working to lead up to that point. For our family, however, it has now become even more important. My brother, Cameron, leaves for the Army today. He's a third generation serviceman following the footsteps of my both of my grandfathers and my great grandfather. It's a bittersweet moment for my parents and I. We are immensly proud of his career choice and know he will succeed, but it's still sad to see him go.
In the past two years, I have come to view the life of a soldier in a whole new light. My fiance, Luke, served in the Army's 82nd Airborne, and completed a tour in Iraq. Hearing the stories he has to tell really puts things into persepctive. Some are funny, some are sad, and some are down right scary! Our men and women in the service are facing adversity during their tours and even after they return home.I'm so thankful that Cam has someone at home that can really relate to him on this level. Luke has been such a great help in supporting Cam and giving him all the advice he could ask for.
Even if you don't have any loved ones that serve in the military, it is very important to be aware of the challenges that our soldiers and veterans have faced during and after their time in service. Whether, they flew airplanes, provided medical help, fought on the front lines, or even had a desk job, remember that we would be nothing without them. These men and women deserve much more than they receive in support now. So thank a soldier whenever you can. I can tell you now that they are as humble as they come, but every little bit counts :) We are also avid supporters of the Wounded Warrior Project! Check out their website for more information and to see how you can help!
Happy Memorial Day to Cam, Luke, and all of the brave men and women in our country!
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