In the United States, Memorial Day (today, May 31st) was created as a poignant holiday to remember and recognize those who have sacrificed their lives to help maintain the freedoms and safety we enjoy in this country. Regardless of your political leanings, feelings about warfare, ethnic background or apathy, the men and women who have died trying to protect your rights deserve thanks. Those killed in conflict weren’t there because they towed a party line, didn’t decide to wage war, were of many races and cared enough to put their lives on the line for a country even those who don’t seem to appreciate enjoy. While the holiday now includes advertising overload for picnic food, cars, vegetable plants, sales and all sorts of diversionary activities and purchases, planning a barbeque should not be the primary focus of this day.
What does this have to do with horses? I could go off on a tangent about how horsemanship seems to have been forgotten with the popular training precepts of the day, but I won’t.
Please spend a few solemn moments today to remember and appreciate those who were killed because they cared. And since Veteran’s Day seems to be a mostly overlooked holiday of late, how about going a little further and thanking a vet who made it home alive?
For my part, I’d like to not only send a message out to surviving families of those who lost a loved one that I deeply appreciate the sacrifice and feel for you, but would also like to send a huge hug to all those still alive who were willing to leave behind their home, family, friends, job, a living wage and in many cases, their sanity, in an effort to serve so others could relax. I’m not sure I’d have the courage to do what you did, but hold you in high regard for your selfless and patriotic perspective. Thank you!
