A Simple, Straightforward "Thanks" on this Memorial Day

I was raised by a man who served in the army and have been surrounded by both family members of earlier through to current generations; close friends of my family growing up servers; friends I went to school with went into one military branch or another. I made the formerly regrettable decision not to serve but to go to college. It was one or the other for dad. Eventually, I rebelled to the point of being expelled from UNLV during my third semester. Smoking weed outside the classroom doors and drinking liquor laced with cocaine or crystal methods didn't help me any, except that it helped to numb the pain of that time in my life.

The point is that I was raised by a lot of patriotic men & women; some served in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and other skirmishes around the world. I'm grateful for all of them. Those who died in battle. Those who survived any physical injury while deployed to a war zone only to be killed shortly after getting back home. I've been to many Veterans Cemeteries for many funerals. Arlington has been a destination several times and I always make time to go to the Tomb. "Known Only to God."

Cooking on the grill is what most Americans do on this day. Why? Is it disrespectful? I don't think so. It's what they would probably be doing were they here with us.

The important thing is to remember. Take it seriously. The United States has never been closer to the God given rights, the natural rights guaranteed against the interference thereof by the Bill of Rights, being taken away, little by little. The US Government isn't curtailing them directly. No, it's by proxy via corporations and unelected bureaucrats in the many alphabet departments in the nation.