Memorial Day

I wrote this post in 2014. As I watched the movies and documentaries this weekend, this picture below haunts me. 

Memorial Day

A day when we honor those who died while serving in our country’s armed forces. The practice of decorating soldiers’ graves started after the Civil War—the war in which more Americans died than in any other war.

This picture, posted on Facebook, really touched me. It’s s vivid reminder of the families who have suffered a loss that only those who have suffered a similar loss can fully understand. I haven’t, but my heart hurts for those who have. Spouses, parents, children of our fallen heroes gave a sacrifice as great as the soldier who died. Maybe greater. They live with the heartache every day while the soldier has gone to his/her reward.

While the rest of us enjoy our three-day weekend, have our picnics, kick off the beginning of summer, maybe we can take a moment and thank those who died protecting our freedoms.

Memorial Day

Because it's my turn at The Roses of Prose today, please hop on over there to read my post on today's holiday. http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com/2016/05/memorial-day-2016-by-diane-burton.html

Also, the serialization of The Case of the Bygone Brother continues on Wattpad.  https://www.wattpad.com/story/72359159-the-case-of-the-bygone-brother-an-alex-o%27hara

Enjoy the holiday. Please remember the reason--honoring those who died protecting our freedom.

Memorial Day

Friday, I wrote most of this post on the Fiction Fanatics Feud group on Facebook. The more I thought about this weekend and watched programs honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in war, I wanted to share my thoughts here, too.

Sometimes, we take federal holidays for granted or only think about how great it is to have a day off work. We forget the reason behind designating a particular day a holiday. Memorial Day's origin goes back to 1868. The purpose was for the nation to decorate the graves of those soldiers who died in the Civil War. Since, it's expanded to include all service people who died defending us.

My dad and his brothers fought in WWII, one of my grandfathers in WWI, a great-great grandfather in the Civil War, and a multi-great grandfather in the Revolutionary War. An uncle and a good friend were police officers. Their service ensured that we are still a country of freedoms. Freedoms we often take for granted, forgetting that many people in this world don't have them.


During the Viet Nam War, we (as a country) forgot that most of our soldiers had not volunteered. Anger at the country's leadership was turned on those who fought instead of those who sent them. Recently it seems as if the actions of a few police officers have tarnished the majority of those who truly believe and practice the motto "protect and serve." 

Post-apocalyptic movies and books show us what happens when society breaks down. Law and order is gone. Chaos reigns. Those with the power and weapons rule. Might makes right. Heaven help the rest. While I love movies and books, those that show the disintegration of civilization make me so uncomfortable I can't watch or read them. The reality is too horrifying to contemplate.

So I'm grateful that a few volunteered and gave their lives to protect the majority. While we enjoy our picnics and get-togethers, let's take time to remember the reason.

Memorial Day

A day when we honor those who died while serving in our country’s armed forces. The practice of decorating soldiers’ graves started after the Civil War—the war in which more Americans died than in any other war.

This picture, posted on Facebook, really touched me. It’s s vivid reminder of the families who have suffered a loss that only those who have suffered a similar loss can fully understand. I haven’t, but my heart hurts for those who have. Spouses, parents, children of our fallen heroes gave a sacrifice as great as the soldier who died. Maybe greater. They live with the heartache every day while the soldier has gone to his/her reward.

While the rest of us enjoy our three-day weekend, have our picnics, kick off the beginning of summer, maybe we can take a moment and thank those who died protecting our freedoms.

Sci-fi Romance Chat part 2

Join me over at Jessica Subject's Backward Momentum today, where we continue our chat from last Thursday about science fiction romance. http://backwardmomentum.blogspot.ca/2013/05/part-2-of-my-chat-with-sfr-author-diane.html

Meanwhile, on this Memorial Day, please remember those who have served our country--and continue to do so--so that we may enjoy the freedoms that so many in other countries do not. Thank you for your service!