This Memorial Day take some time & remember those servicemen & women, who will not be with us today. Those individuals who have given what we in America cherish the most, their life. For many, today represents a day off from regular labor, a day for picnics, a day on the water, a day to sleep later than usual. It is also a day of remembrance of loved that have passed away, & for me, a day to give thanks to those who have died so that we can have the freedoms we so enjoy today.  

Memorial Day in the house that I was raised was full of activities that involved servicemen. Every male in my family, father, grandfathers, uncles, all served in a branch of the military. That continued with my husband with a career in the military, my sons & now my daughter-in-law. The military has been ingrained into every fiber of my being. But I also understand that many folks have not had this blessing in life & may not understand why individuals choose to serve, so they do not give them a second thought. The face value of why someone chooses to serve in the military varies; help pay for higher education, see the world, get away from home, etc. But deeper down, each & everyone have a calling to be part of something or do something greater than them.  

The military life is not for everyone, but for those who feel the call, God Bless them. They take with them all over the world a little bit of home, & we back home keep a part of them in our souls to remember & honor them. Remember, a service member is a true bipartisan member of the government. They serve with honor no matter where & what the job may be or which political party is in power at the time. If by chance you see a service person in uniform, don’t shy away from them, go up & shake their hand & tell them THANK YOU. No matter which side your on in today’s conflict, the person in uniform is there because of & for YOU & ME. So, when you visit the cemetery to honor a family member, bring an extra flower with you to lie on the site of an unknown soldier that you have never met, to show that you remember.

Penny Modlin

BPW/MI President & Proud American