Happy Memorial Day and THANK YOU to our service men and women!

I want to take the oportunity of Memorial Day to say a great big and heartfelt thank you to all our service men and women, both past and present.  What you give is immeasurable.  Despite the hard economic and social climate currently in our country, thanks to you and your dedication, our country still stands strong and truly is the land of the free and the home of the brave.  You are a great example to us all.  You demonstrate that despite our differences: rich or poor; educated or not so much; in agreement with our current government or not; single or with a family; white or of another racial background; christian, jew, muslim or other; that we must stand united and work together for the common good of all - in America or in another country.  So thank you, thank you, thank you - for what you give, strive for and sacrifice. And for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, for which we remember you especially today, thank you. Your sacrifice in being taken from this life has ensured that I may be here with my family enjoying the many freedoms and safety we have today, and that countless others may enjoy the same. There are no words adequate to cover the debt you paid for your country. Thank you, thank you.

And thank you as well to all the people who stay at home supporting their soldiers from afar.  Thank you to all the moms and dads, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, girlfriends and boyfriends, friends and relatives and even the strangers who send out care packages and cards to soldiers they will never meet.  The support and love and sacrifice you give in staying behind while your loved one journeys off, gives them support from afar and sets a wonderful example of strength for us all.  Thank you. And also my thanks to all those, both lay people and professionals who dedicate themselves to supporting our veterans once they are home. So many return with scars we cannot see and many others with injuries we can see. Thank you to all of you who follow a calling to support them and their families here on American soil, not because by job definition you have to, but also because by heart's definition you feel called to. Thank you.

Happy Memorial Day all.  May your flag fly with pride today and every day.