November, rather than May

As most of you know, #memorialday is the day we set aside to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, their life, while in the service of our country. What many may not know is that Memorial Day is not intended to honor Veterans who passed away after their service. We honor those Men and Women in November on Veteran’s Day, along with the ones of course who are still thankfully with us. For anyone reading this that has a loved one that they celebrate and remember on Memorial Day, please know my thoughts and sincere prayers are with you.

For me personally, Memorial Day always triggers an overwhelming sense of gratefulness that is hard to explain. First and foremost, for the Men and Women that died so that I can have the freedom we are all blessed to have in this country. All the ones I never met that died for me, someone they had never met, simply from the love they had for our country and this blessing of Freedom we have in it. But there is more than that, way more.

I can honestly tell you that my life was and still is DRAMATICALLY impacted by this distinction between Honoring my Military Heroes in November, rather than in May. I am blessed to have always been able to celebrate the Military people in my life in November, on Veteran’s Day. Although my Dad left for Vietnam just a few weeks before I was born, he was one of the fortunate ones that made it home from that war. I got to grow up with a Dad, thank you, Lord. I know that many, many did not. It is hard for me even to imagine how different my life would have been if my Dad had been called on to make the ultimate sacrifice. My Dad has been gone now for a little over 3 years, but I had him in my life. I am beyond thankful and grateful for that.

Fast forward to today, where there is another important Veteran in my life, my Business Partner and Nephew, Trey Coleman . Trey served our country faithfully in Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Army Calvary Scout (First in and last out!). Rrhoid Rage , a business that he and his wife created and that we now all own together, would not have been possible if he had been called on to make the ultimate sacrifice(as sadly many of his close friends over there were asked to make). Our relationship, friendship, and close bond are all the result of us being able to honor him in November, rather than in May.

I can only imagine that many of you reading this have similar stories, and I encourage you to spend some time this Memorial Day Weekend thinking about what your life would have been like if they hadn’t of come home. That empathy that we can hone in on this weekend will give us a much better mental platform to actually stop and honor not only those who died for our country but also the loved ones they left behind.

As we spend this weekend Honoring our heroes who died in the service of our country, please also take some time to honor and remember their families and friends; those who are called to honor and celebrate the lives of their loved ones in May, rather than in November. God bless all who have served this great country we call the United States of America and a special “tip of the hat” to the families who remember and celebrate their own personal fallen heroes this last weekend in May. #WeRemember #NeverForget #memorialday2023 #USA