My Marine Monday - Memorial Day carry over

I was pleased with all the wonderful facebook posts about Memorial day.  The different pictures, and links and shout outs.  It reminded me of what the country was like right after 9/11.  Do you remember?  We were united.  Everyone was feeling so patriotic.  Flags were everywhere.  It was truly a unique feeling that I don't know that I have or will ever experience again.  I hope so.  But I hope it doesn't take a terrorist attack or the holiday once a year to bring that feeling out in everyone.

For those of us who have loved ones serving in the military whether oversears, in the middle of the current conflict or even here at home, holidays like Memorial day, the Flag, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem take on much deeper and powerful meanings.  We are stirred in our hearts perhaps more so than the average US citizen.  It means something to us on a whole other level.

When I checked Chloee into school late last week, her class was just getting ready to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  The do it every day.  Every child participates.  I watched as Chloee quickly hucked her backpack in the general direction of her cubby so that she could quickly join them before they started.

I stood for a moment watching those sweet 3 and 4 year olds.  Face the American Flag, place their small hands over their hearts and together in unison recite:

"Ready begin.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.  And to the republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible and with liberty and justice for all."

I looked at the faces of those little ones.  White, brown, black.  Eyes of different shapes and colors.  Hair of different colors and textures.  All those beautiful children were unique in their heritage and ethinic backgrounds.  However, for a few moments every morning, they are united in a single cause.  The cause of pledge their allegiance to THIS country.  To THIS, the United States of America.

These children don't care if their skin colors are different.  If they speak a different language in their homes.  If they have two mommies or two daddies, or if they live with Mimi and Poppa or Nana and Grandpa.  Those things don't figure in to their relationships.

I want to be more like them.

Today, those images in my head of watching the kids pledge their allegiance really stuck with me today as we passed flag after flag being displayed.    And cute Chloee, when we see a flag, she reminds us to place our hand over our heart.  She is extremely respectful and reminds us to be so as well.  I love that this is being instilled in her early.  She will go to Camp Pendleton prepared to become a part of a tight, united military family.

And then my thoughts turned to the children, wives, husbands, and families of those who have pledged their allegiance in the ultimage fashion.  Serving their country and giving the ultimate sacrifice.  Those were the ones that occupied much of my thoughts during quiet times in  the day.

I have often said how proud I am of Corbin and his decision to serve.  It has changed him.  It has changed me.  It has changed our family.  And all for the better.  We are more patriotic than ever before.  We notice the flag.  We notice those in uniform.  We pay more attention to what is going on overseas.  Our prayers include more often those men and women serving our country. We pray for those families who don't have their loved one come home. We pray that we will never be one of those families.



I hope your Memorial day was more than just dropping off a few flowers and having a family bbq.  More than just a movie out with the family, or even just a day off to do yard work or clean the house.

I hope that you allowed the message of what the day is truly about to sink in your hearts and soul.  That perhaps you felt a little more patriotic and that that feeling can carry on for more than just a weekend.

Semper Fi