Memorial Day, 2011

We took the kids to the cemetery near Chris' work. The Scouts gave each of us to place near a tombstone of a vet in honor of Memorial Day. We wanted and talked with the kids, reminding them (and ourselves) what a blessing it is to have people who are risking, have risked, and even gave their lives for the freedoms we so often take for granted.

We found a couple who seemed to have met during WWII, he a pilot and she a nurse. Judging by the date, he may have died in the Korean War and she died a few years ago (judging by the name and location next to him, never remarried). We thanked God for them. We thanked God for America where we can worship freely, have a say in our government, have access to clean water and food, work in whatever job we choose, study what we want, marry who we want, and generally be "safe" on a daily basis. How quick we are, in our sheltered bubbles, to forget how many in the world do not have these luxuries. We are thankful to those who have sacrificially served to make that possible.

Isaac really seemed to "get it" this year. Abigail liked sticking the flag in the ground, but did not show any emotion until we wandered into an area that had grave markers for babies. Her only real grasp of death has been with our fish, but seeing the stones for the babies almost made her cry.