Memorial Day 2013

Today is Memorial Day in the USA - remembering the soldiers who died in service to America.  I'm listening to a radio station which has its hosts broadcasting live today from the USS Iowa berthed in the LA harbor.  People call in to honor fallen loved ones, guests talk about related topics... I must admit, it has made me cry a lot this morning, but that's a good thing.  Memorial day here has turned into just the symbolic start to summer, with barbecues and sales and not much memory going on.  It would be nice if they would do what they do in Israel on their memorial day:  sirens sound across the country and the entire population of the country stands in silence - literally, wherever they are at that moment - and pause in solemn reflection for those that made the ultimate sacrifice.  You can watch videos of that observance by clicking here and here.

Let's put up the flag and remember what today is all about.