Who will you honor this Memorial Day?

As Memorial Day approaches and the “unofficial” start to summer is about to begin it is important to understand this holiday and its meaning to the military community. Did you know that May is Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day is just one of several holidays this month honoring those who serve and their family?

May is a special month for the military community. On May 12th, we pay tribute to supportive families and spouses on Military Spouse Appreciation Day. CVS Health is proud to employ the men and women who support those in uniform. The third Saturday in May, this year May 20th, is Armed Forces Day a chance to honor those in service and the month concludes with Memorial Day. Due to all the holidays in May that honor our military, Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure our country can publicly demonstrate their appreciation for the sacrifices and successes made by our service members, past and present.

Memorial Day is often misunderstood with all the sales, celebrations and cookouts or is confused with Veteran’s Day. On Veterans Day, we take the time to appreciate the people who served in our military, on Memorial Day we take the time to honor those who died during their service. As Cathy Arnett, one of my CVS Health colleagues stated, “We choose not to say Happy Memorial Day. I know personally that my veteran sons are solemnly remembering their military brothers who are no longer of this earth, and I remember my amazing nephew Seth. Yes we cook out, usually ribs and we laugh and enjoy the day, summer is still coming and there are many things to be grateful for.”

For me, I will remember my father and both my grandfathers who served during war. My dad’s father served in the infantry during WWI and my mother’s father felt compelled to join the Navy during WWII and he never returned home. I shared his story last year. Dad was drafted during the Korean War but was fortunate enough to be sent to Germany and therefore never saw combat. I will take a few minutes during the day to say a prayer for each of them before firing up the grill and enjoying time with family and friends. We will tell stories and laugh because life does go on and that is how I know Dad would want his memory honored.