Memorial Day—-A Reminder Worth Sharing

Soldier FlagProbably three of the most important men in my life served in our military.  My dad and my father-in-law served in World War II, and my brother-in-law served in Viet Nam.  All three are gone now, and are laid to rest in a national cemetery on Long Island called Calverton.  They served our country and we remember them on Veterans day, this weekend is different.

This weekend is Memorial Day.  I know, it is the beginning of summer.  I know it will be full of hotdogs and b-b-q fires; but take a moment; albeit a brief moment, and remember the day.

Memorial Day is an important day because it is to remember those who died while serving our country.  Dad, Joe, and Joel certainly gave me a huge amount of respect for those who served, but they came home.  So many more did not.  On this memorial weekend, will people even lower flags in honor of those fallen soldiers who did not come home.

I bet you can tell me a story that you read this month about a movie star or a celebrity, and yet, so far this month 3 people have died while serving this country in what is known as “The War on Terror” or “Operation Enduring Freedom”—it doesn’t matter the name, it was war; did you know any of their names?  Did you read anything about them in any newspaper?  Did we stop, even for a second, and say a prayer for them and their families?  Did we even know?

They deserve more from us, don’t you think?

The people who die while in service to this country are revealed to us in statistics.  Three killed one month, five killed in another.  But in each case, their bodies were shipped to a home town somewhere, a family came to greet the fallen soldier, a mom-dad-wife-sister-brother touched the casket as it came off the plane, lives were shattered, tears were shed, and lives were changed forever.

Forever.

Whether you think war is right or wrong, whether you think war is all about money and politics, whether you agree or disagree with any war, know this; someone DID MAKE THE CHOICE to enter the armed services because they believed the ideas and ideals for which America stands are worth defending……..and sometimes defending to their very death.  They believed that!

And that deserves a moment, just one moment this weekend to remember they did that and we did not—even for a brief moment; before you enjoy a bite into that hot dog.

It is the least we can do, remember.

I am a diabetes dad.

Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

Diabetes Jeopardy Answer #11 for D-Month: Veterans Day-A Hero as You have Never Met Before.

Mark Thompson…..Who is Sergeant First Class Mark Thompson.

For Veteran’s Day….this story just seemed to be a natural.  Enjoy the video of someone who was not only a hero dealing with diabetes; he was a hero on the battlefield.

Happy Veterans Day.

CLICK:  here for the video.

For Diabetes Awareness Month:

This month, I will be highlighting someone in the diabetes community.  They may be people you know, or might not know, but they give of themselves to make this world, our world, with diabetes a special place.   I will not get to everyone this month, but it is my hope that perhaps you can be introduced to some of those you may not know.

I’m certainly not the definitive on who should be included….you are.  If you think I should include someone, shoot me an email at tkarlya@drif.org and I will do what I can to include that person as well.  Welcome to diabetes awareness month.

I am a diabetes dad.

Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.