Here we are. A holiday weekend is upon us.

This weekend will be packed with backyard bar-b-ques, picnics, sunny days at the beach with family and friends…

Celebrating…

But do we remember what this weekend is about? Do we know what it is we are honoring on Memorial Day?

Don’t get me wrong, those above mentioned activities are great (especially with thosewe love), but this holiday is about more than that…

It’s about a flag.

More specifically, Memorial Day is about a FOLDED flag, very similar to the one you see pictured.

The only difference between THIS flag you are seeing and the ones we should be honoring this Memorial Day is…

This particular flag was presented to me as a gift, a remembrance, a promise…

“I’m done.”

“That was the last time.”

“I’m out.”

THIS flag was handed to me by the same hands that held mine and promised me forever. The same hands that cut the umbilical cord on four beautiful girls and held them next to his heart. The same hands that, God willing, will do the same for another little miracle in a few short months. The hands that helped place this flag in this box still hug his babies and play “girl fight” and “daddy tree.” The hands I speak of still rub my back after a long stressful day, his and mine. They leave for work every day to continue to provide for my family.

You see, THIS flag is DIFFERENT than the flags that we are honoring this holiday.

There are no spent shells from a final salute folded meticulously inside MY flag.

This flag just contains memories…mostly his.

You see, he wrote the blank check years ago…

I am thankful to my dear Father in Heaven that his check was cashed with a few scars, bruises, and some pains that he will continue to live with, but…

the value of my love’s check did not add up to his life.

However, this day is not about us…not my family and our sacrifices.

It’s not about the familes in homes with flags like ours because our flags never draped across a closed casket.

This day is not about my Veteran. NO, it’s not his day.

While I hope that he is off work this holiday weekend to spend time with our family, it is important for us to remember that though he served proudly…

He returned home with his life.

This day is for the ones who didn’t.

This day is for the families who had loved ones that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

This day is for widows who won’t grow old with their spouse, children who will no longer feel the loving embrace of a lost parent, mothers and fathers mourning the loss of a child, and brothers and sisters who will live with the untimely death of a sibling.

This day is for the families with folded flags that their loved ones did not personally bring home.

This holiday is for those who heard the final salute and wiped tears from their eyes as they listened to the bugle serendade them with Taps.

This day is theirs.

So while you are celebrating with your family and friends…

While you are enjoying a long weekend, an extra day off work…

Do so with gratitude…

Do so with a thankful heart…

Do so with pride in the lives that were sacrificed for your very freedom to celebrate.

May we never forget why or how we are where we are today.

Whether you see our nation as whole or failing…

Your freedoms…

Your rights…

They were all paid for with the blood of someone who thought more of YOU and this country than they did of their very own life.

Happy Memorial Day to the families who have flags on their shelves that were handed to them with a final salute…

Your loss is not forgotten.