Speak Their Names - Til Valhalla

Memorial Day weekend is a solemn annual reminder for many of us with friends and family that have felt the sting of combat. I am thankful for the opportunity to honor our fallen and remember their sacrifices. This Memorial Day is especially poignant for me, as within days I am retiring from the Marine Corps Reserve after 30 years of service. The shared experience of going into harms way creates unique bonds that cannot be fully explained in written word. As both this somber holiday and my impending retirement rapidly approach, my mind is flickering between the dark and the light of my experiences. Memories of kinetic adventures and the heroes I have met along the journey wash over me. This weekend I will be remembering some of my friends, those heroes that never came home. I believe that in this life we die twice, once with our last breath and again when our name is last spoken. For those with family or friends that have paid the ultimate price in the service of our nation, I salute your fallen and encourage you to speak their names this Memorial Day. I will be raising a glass in their honor. Til Valhalla