With today being Memorial Day, I will deviate from my typical Monday blog and pause to reflect on the men and women who gave their lives to defend the freedoms we have today.

Growing up, I learned early on that Memorial Day wasn’t just a day off from school or the unofficial start of summer. It was a day for reverent reflection—a sacred pause amid life’s busyness. As a family, we would visit the cemetery to spruce up the monuments and grave markers of our loved ones. The women received flowers, and most of the men received a flag.

It was always a quiet, somber occasion. My father, with a gravity only he could convey, would share stories of those we honored. Some were kin. Others were friends. All were brave souls whose legacies shaped the lives we live today. Over time, life has changed tremendously. The cemeteries are quieter now. When we visit on Memorial Day, we might see a few other men and women, but rarely any children. That communal remembrance, once deeply rooted, feels like it’s fading.

A Personal Thread in the Tapestry of Service

As a retired veteran, I take great pride in our family’s tradition of military service. My sons, and now my grandsons, have followed that path. Some have retired, just as I did. But our story of service doesn’t start with me—it reaches far back to my great (many times over) grandfather, Private Jesse Devore, who served in the Pennsylvania 45th Regiment, Company E during the American Civil War.

He died on June 9, 1864, from wounds sustained during the Battle of Cold Harbor, a grim and ferocious conflict that was part of Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign. Cold Harbor claimed the lives and futures of thousands, with an estimated 12,737 Union casualties and 4,595 Confederate casualties. It was brutal and unrelenting—yet critical to the Union’s strategy near Richmond, Virginia.

Private DeVore now rests in Arlington National Cemetery, a hallowed ground that reminds us of the true price of freedom. When I walk among those rows of markers, each one tells a story. Some we know by name, many we don’t—but all were someone’s child, someone’s sibling, someone’s hope.

What Does Memorial Day Mean to You?

That question lingers. Is it just another Monday off work? A day for cookouts, travel, or shopping sales? Or is it, perhaps, something in between?

There’s no right or wrong answer—but there is an opportunity to pause. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, established shortly after the Civil War to honor those who had died in battle. By 1971, it became a federal holiday, observed on the last Monday in May, broadening to remember all American military personnel who died in service.

Today, many Americans no longer know someone who died in war—and that’s part of the reason the meaning may feel more distant. According to a Pew Research study, only 7% of U.S. adults have served in the military, a number that continues to decline. Yet every single one of us enjoys the freedoms secured through sacrifice.

So maybe the question isn’t just “What does Memorial Day mean to you?” Maybe it’s, “How will you honor it?” Even something simple—a moment of silence, a flag displayed with intention, sharing a story with your children—can rekindle that connection.

A Call to Remember, A Chance to Teach

The loss of visible remembrance—especially the absence of young people at cemeteries—isn’t just about tradition. It’s about memory. When children don’t learn why we honor this day, the meaning slowly fades. Stories untold become stories forgotten.

I remember hearing my dad talk about World War II veterans, friends he grew up with who never made it home. I remember his tone when he spoke about sacrifice—it wasn’t angry or bitter. It was respectful, sometimes emotional. He believed in service. He believed in remembering.

Now, it’s our turn. Maybe you don’t have a personal connection to someone who served. That’s okay. You can still take part. Reflect. Ask questions. Share what you know. Teach your children or grandchildren about what those small flags in the cemetery truly represent.

We must remember that freedom isn’t free—and Memorial Day is not just about honoring the dead. It’s about living in a way that’s worthy of their sacrifice.

Holding the Flame

As we mark another Memorial Day, I hope you’ll take a moment to look beyond the day off and the BBQ grill. Think about the lives behind the flags. The families who still feel the absence. The legacy of service carried through generations.

For me, it’s a day of solemn pride. A day to remember my ancestors and the countless others who gave their all. A day to honor those who didn’t get the chance to come home.

May we hold the flame of remembrance high—and pass it on.