Memorial Day: It's About More than Just a Bargain, A Barbeque or A Pool Opening

Last November I wrote this post about my father in law and the importance of recognizing the significance of Veteran's Day. Last year I was hunting all over for the picture of my sister in law had emailed me of my father in law at the Korean War Memorial and couldn't find it in time to be able to post it for Veteran's Day.



Well, I am happy to say I found it.


And when I did, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. Right there, do you see it? There is soldier peering over the shoulder of my father in law. How symbolic of past meets present, that the soldiers of yesterday are still the soldiers of today and we must remember they have carried so much on those strong shoulders. The men and women who have served and currently serve so that we may enjoy our freedom and happiness.



But alas this servitude and dedication comes at a price, these warfighters and their families shoulder the responsibility of the effect of experiencing war. War is hell. And that hell often comes in many forms. PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, in addition to as loss of limb or, in the worst case scenario, loss of life. Families are fractured every day by the injury and fatality of their loved ones in this time of war. There's just on pretty way to put it. And on Memorial Day, we should do something in addition to having a day off and turning on the grill. We should remember why Memorial Day exists. We should do what we can to remember our fallen heroes and those who currently are in harms way. Whether you agree or not with the war isn't the point.

If you've ever met me, you know I'm probably the least likely person you would expect to be married to a military man. I think I'm used to overhearing people tell my husband, "Your wife is...refreshing." I am a shit disturber, and unapologetically so, if it means getting attention to the crazy amount of stress which is happening right now to our military and their families. Services are being provided, but these services don't just run on love, admiration and gratitude.

They need cold hard cash.

But now we can give it and it's really very simple and won't actually cost you a thing beyond what you normally would be buying during the Memorial Day sales events. Really? YES!

It's so easy and it helps the economy, it helps veterans and it can help you feel like you are helping too. Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the launch of Beyond Tribute, an organization which asks retailers and consumers support our veterans' service organizations by registering their business in the Beyond Tribute program or pledge to shop those companies who are participating in Beyond Tribute. The concept is simple, companies agree to donate a portion of their Memorial Day and Veteran's Day sales proceeds to Beyond Tribute, which in turn will send it to the Veteran's Service organizations.

As Pamela Stokes Eggleston from Blue Star Families said it yesterday, "I'm shopping the sales, you should too!" and now you can shop, as Bob Balaban put it, "as an act of conscience." Please spread the word to the stores where you shop.




Our military, veterans and their families thank you for your support. And so do I.