Happy Memorial Day!
As we enter this holiday weekend it’s important to remember those who have put their lives on the line for our country. Too often the Memorial Day weekend is just another time to get a few days off work to spend with family and friends.
It’s all too easy to forget the reason for this holiday. How many receiving this email have ever gone to a cemetery to be part of a special Memorial Day observance with their families to honor those who have served and paid the ultimate price for that service? I know it’s been a long time for me and my family but this Memorial Day I am going to take the time to pay tribute and I hope you will too. In case you have forgotten how Memorial Day came to be here is a little history.
In the 19th century, "Decoration Day" was started to encourage citizens to decorate the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the observance expanded to include ceremonies honoring those who died in all of America's wars. The holiday became Memorial Day in 1967.

Now, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. Touching and beautiful ceremonies are held at cemeteries across the country, and if you haven't ever attended one, I encourage you to go this year. I guarantee you'll come away with a new appreciation for the extraordinary efforts of our veterans, and the ultimate sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our country.

General George S. Patton offered his own perspective: "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

Over 400,000 American soldiers and sailors died in World War II. Around 1,000 World War II veterans are dying each day. These are the unsung heroes who saw action in Europe, Asia and Africa, and then came home and got down to business. We know them as the "Greatest Generation" -- the men and women who took on big challenges and gave selflessly. Can we meet those standards?