Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

   Last year, unplanned and unintentionally, I found myself smack dab among the gathered crowds for the Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C. My friend Kristin and I planned to spend a few extra days in the area after completing a business trip and took our first Uber to the capital—not realizing the magnitude of the crowds that would be present for the day. After taking in the sights of the parade and running across town to find a bus, we made our way to the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials where I was truly taken aback. There, in a solemn stillness and silence gathered families—mothers, fathers, grandparents, cousins, uncles, and nephews who all were there for the same purpose: to honor and remember their family members who gave their lives our country. Hardly anyone spoke, but as I slowly moved down the path, reading name after name on the tall black wall, I realized that what I didn’t auditorily sense I could visually recognize. Placed with tender thought were tributes to these fallen heroes. Anything from infantry boots to roses and numerous handwritten letters were placed alongside the wall of the Vietnam Memorial. No one spoke because their thoughts and words were represented by the gifts left next to the too-long of list of names. My grandfather was a paratrooper in the 503rd Airborne and a rifleman in World War II who fought on Normandy Beach, and my brother followed his footsteps as a rifleman in the First Battalion of the 23rd Infantry Division. While our family is fortunate to have not lost them during their deployments, we remember their comrades who were not as fortunate. Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, but the tradition of honoring members of the armed forces was established long before then. While the origin of the holiday is obscure, Waterloo, NY is the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo first celebrated the day in 1866 by closing the businesses and decorating the graves of soldiers with flags and flowers—much like we still do to this day. Whether you find yourself in the midst of the crowd waiting to witness the parade, by a local cemetery, or simply with family and friends enjoying their company, take time to follow the National Moment of Remembrance and pause at 3:00 PM your local time to unite with the county to honor our fallen soldiers.    Michelle Robinson started out working in Production and as a marketing assistant, but now enjoys working with the Customer Service Department. Having been homeschooled her whole life, Michelle had the opportunity to compete in a homeschool speech and debate league. Because she is a  Latin scholar, Michelle has been asked to teach that subject to the local homeschooling community. Michelle is passionate about photography, her friends, and her faith. Log in or register to post commentsMichelle Robinsons blog Log in or register to post comments