Their willingness to postpone the chance to join the workforce and create a family is appreciated by a public who, mostly, has not made a similar sacrifice.
We, as a civilian society, stand in awe of their selflessness while wondering ourselves if we had the right stuff to have made that decision at such an early age.
Others join police and fire departments, become EMTs, or volunteer for service to society’s less fortunate. This is to be commended, but still pales to what these men and women do, for little pay, and sometimes disrespect.
On Memorial Day, we focus on lost military members, some not even citizens, who gave all as their gift to country and man.
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Imagine doing so for people you’ve never met, and those who don’t understand the decision to do so.
Yet, those hardened by life, and worrying about what comes next, still stop when they see those proudly wearing the uniform, and pay respect to them for choosing to serve so that we may be free to complain about our own lives.
Memorial day should never be an afterthought, like Labor Day, or even Christmas, sometimes. Here’s hoping it will always be celebrated for what it is: honoring the passing of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.