Legal Marketing & PR

A Special Memorial Day

By Michelle Golden

I'd like to take a moment and thank all of those who serve and who have served in keeping our country and her people, and our fellow human beings safe, all around the world.

Memorial Day, to me, feels very personal recognizing the service in WWII of my beloved Grandpa, may he rest in peace.

My special Memorial Day weekend included spending a full 24 hours with my soldier son who recently returned from a turbulent year in Afghanistan: his third tour in his seven years of service. The joy in this opportunity was only tempered by the knowledge that too many moms and dads, brothers and sisters, spouses, children, and grandkids, weren't able to spend this day with their fallen soldier, sailor, airman, or marine.

Appreciating those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is critically important. But so is thanking those still living who also deserve our gratitude for their significant and permanent personal sacrifices made on all our behalf. Past, present and future generations have them to thank for freedom and liberty that we enjoy every single day, most of us with little understanding of just how fragile this freedom really is.

Edith Orenstein authored a lovely blog post today entitled "Gratitude." I thank you Edith, for mentioning my family among those you touched on in your post. And most of all, I thank you for sharing the message of The Gratitude Campaign.

Maybe you are like me. I pass many military men and women in my daily travels, and am sometimes too humbled, choked up, and sometimes too shy to intrude, but deeply wish to show my appreciation...this is a very cool way to express yourself when words don't seem appropriate.

Full post as published by Golden Practices on May 26, 2009 (boomark / email).