Memorial Day… The Real Reason

We use Memorial Day as a holiday to get together with family and hang out, which I do think is important. And even with all of our festivities on any given holiday, I always make it a point to honor the holiday for the true reason it’s celebrated.

I recognize all of the men and women who have died serving our country and I am thankful for the fact that they were willing to give their lives for our country. Every year, I try to go out to the cemetery where my dad is buried. Even though he didn’t die while actively serving, he gave over 25 years of his life dedicated to our country as an E9 in the United States Air Force.

He was a Physicians Assistant and served in MASH units (yes, just like the show) in Viet Nam and Korea. When he came back stateside, he served on base at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma (which is also where I was born). I have pictures of my dad elbow deep in some man’s abdomen operating. I have all of his medals and pins and honors he received during his time served. I have pictures of him standing with astronauts from many Apollo and Gemini missions where he served as a medic on the Launch Site Recovery Team for NASA. Although he did not die while serving our country, he risked his life for many years doing work not just any of us would give up our lives for. And for Him, I am grateful and proud.

At the cemetery where he was “buried” in the mausoleum, they hold a grand weekend of festivities honoring the fallen and those currently serving. I took part in that, signing cards to send to our current troops overseas, talking with vets and relatives of fallen soldiers, and admiring the memorials they had placed in honor of these men and women.

Because my dad is in a mausoleum, I can’t just take flowers and put them at his grave. From the very first time I went back there, to this day, I take a single red rose and I tape it to his marble stone. In the mausoleum, each person who served our country in honored with an emblem next to their name. I enjoyed my day there and loved being there at a time when people were laughing and shaking hands and honoring each other.

I’m grateful to the men and women who serve our country and to those who have given their lives for our freedom.

On a side note, I wrote a poem that day I went to his grave. As I placed the single rose there, these words flooded me. I rushed to type them on my cell phone so that I could write it out once I got home.

You Are Not Here

As I stare at the marble stone,
Where behind, your body lay-
I realize despite my desire,
I will not see you here today.

Your name is boldly painted
For everyone to see
I often sit and wonder
If you are watching over me

A single rose reflects
The love my heart still holds
There’s a void that can’t be filled
A pain so very dull

Each pedal will slowly fall
And the rose will wither and die.
As a flower won’t last forever,
Neither does this life.

My heart floods with tears
It aches to see your face
Deep in my heart I know
You’re in a better place

To want you here is selfish
I know life’s better there
I can only wish upon the day
When heaven’s home we’ll share

I hope if you are looking down
You’re proud of what you see
I strive to live a life
To which you would be pleased

I miss having you here today
I miss your smile and laugh
I miss the simplest of all things-
I miss just calling upon my dad.