Rant #3,949: Remember

Happy Memorial Day to all of us!

Today, we are all out and about, having barbecues, attending ball games, and pretty much having a day off on the unofficial first day of summer.

But honestly, that is not what the holiday is about--

It is a byproduct of the holiday, because without the ultimate sacrifices of so many of our men and women through all the wars and through all the altercations we have been in, we wouldn't be having barbecues, ballgames or the day off to take it a bit easy.

Memorial Day is the day where we remember our war dead, through all the wars we have been in, and this year, it takes on an extra significance for two reasons:

1) We are currently in a war with Iran.

2) This year's holiday is right before our country's 250th anniversary celebration on July 4.

Put aside all the politics, and this is what Memorial Day 2026 is all about.

In some ways, it is a stepping stone for the bigger celebration in July, but it really does stand on its own, because without the sacrifices of so many, we wouldn't be celebrating our country's 250th birthday.

My father was in the Marines during the Korean War conflict, as was my father-in-law.

My dad never went to Korea, although he was supposed to go ... two sets of papers, one having him going, the other having him staying, were issued at the same time, and to make a long story short, he never went over there.

My father-in-law was not so lucky. He fought in Korea, was injured, but he made it out alive.

There are thousands of others who weren't so lucky.

And today, with our war efforts directed at the terrorist regime in Iran, we are still losing brave people.

That is war, I guess.

And whether you are for our experience there or against it, you have to support our war fighters who are fighting the good fight in doing what they are doing, which is ridding the world--or at least trying to--of the capacity for this terrorist nation to launch a nuclear strike against others.

And while we are barbecuing and having fun, that work goes on without stop, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

We honor our war dead today, but let's not forget about those who are currently serving in our armed forces, whose one collective goal is to protect us from harm, so we can have days like this.

There really isn't any more to say about Memorial Day, other than during the day, take a moment and understand what the holiday actually signifies.

Think about it for a moment, and then go back to the barbecuing and the ball games.

That is exactly what those who have made the ultimate sacrifice would want you to do ...

So do it.