This might be longer than usual, so... here goes.

As you might know, today is the US holiday of Memorial Day. This is the day that we celebrate the living and remember the fallen war heroes. But most Americans only see this as a day off from school, or a day to grill hot dogs and burgers.

Memorial day has been reduced to a day where people get excited for memorial day sales. This is a disgrace to the memories of the fallen soldiers that gave their life to save your and my freedom. People often forget that these people gave their lives so that they could have their freedom.

If this is all that we do to remember them, then why even have a memorial day? We need to either remember them, or not. We need to look over the small things in our life, and take a day to remember the fallen, and the ones still fighting the Taliban. These men put their lives on the line so we can be free. If we take the day that was set aside for us to remember them and don't honor them, then what use is it? We could be in work or school upholding what they fought for!

If this is the additude taken to Memorial Day, then we are not doing anyone a favor. We are simply disgracing their memory. We need to, as Americans, take those who have fallen seriously, and not just view Memorial Day as a day to get sales.

But what gave us this image? Was it the stores, with their sales? Places like The Dump (actual store) had 85% off sales. But what was this for? To get more customers on their day off. They merely wanted more money, when soldiers from every country are fighting for their freedom. Chevy and Ford dealers do it also. They have their Memorial Day sales, and the commercials where you see a truck or car in front of red, white, and blue. Are they taking this seriously? They show the colors of our flag not to honor the memory, but to make think that their cars are patriotic.

I applaud Chick Fil A for closing during Memorial Day. More businesses should follow this example and give their workers the day off to go to national cemetaries and honor the fallen. Chick Fil A doesn't cash in on the Memorial Day traffic. They close and take the hit so that their workers can honor the fallen. This is how a business should be run.

Or was it the school's fault?

I've heard even teachers say that they are excited for Memorial Day because they get the day off. This, also, is the wrong attitude. They don't need to give us the mind-set that we get a day off. Even I've been guilty of this, and bet you have also. We need to view this as a bad thing, that so many have died that we need to set aside a day to remember them.

If people don't remember the fallen, then what purpose does this day serve? We don't need another day to grill hambergers! If that's all we do on Memorial Day, the why even have it? We need to remember the fallen, and respect them.

All my thanks and condolences go out to the gold star families, the ones who have lost family members in active duty. The sacrifice you made can never be made up to you, and what you lost can never be replaced.

To the soldiers in active duty right now, stay strong. You are what make this country strong and keep up the good work. You are what keep the country safe and strong, and you protect our freedom.

Please, take a few munutes to remember the fallen, and have a nice day. In my video section there is a new video, for everybody.

Cecil_Highwind