Memorial Day

I know I have nothing much to add to the discussion of the meaning and observation of Memorial Day, but I would still like to salute the men and women who have fought and died in the creation and defense of our country.

My ancestors served with George Washington in the War for Independence, the Civil War, and World War II, among others. More recently, I had a cousin killed in Karbala, Iraq in 2004. I would feel remiss in neglecting to remember and honor the sacrifices that these people and their loved ones have made over the (roughly) two-and-a-half centuries of our nation's existence if I did not post something here when I have the venue and the opportunity to do so.

I've traveled a little bit, even lived abroad for a few years, and I can tell you that there are good things we could learn from some of the other countries with whom we share the planet. But I will also say that the good things we have in our own country should never be taken for granted, or we will surely lose them.

Sure, we need to tweak a few things now and then to make them work better; on occasion we may need to face the reality that an overhaul is necessary (the exception, not the rule, please); and there may be times that we find someone else has a better solution to a problem than we do. We're big enough to do these things without rancor if we put our minds to it.

And yes, I'll go ahead and say it, there are times when we should be able and willing to tell others that we are not going to change the way we do some things—end of story.

Our history is not perfect (show me the land whose is), and there is always room for improvement. But today is the day, every year at this time, when we can stop and thank the people who make all of the above possible. To them and their families, I say thank you.

Happy Memorial Day.