STCF Studio - A Simple, Straightforward "Thanks" on this Memorial Day

I was raised by a man who had served in the US Army and I have, for my entire life, been surrounded by both family members of earlier generations to the current day who served; some during times of war. Close friends of the family when I was growing up also served; some during war time. Friends I went to school with signed on to one branch of the military or another. While they signed on, I made the formerly regrettable decision not to serve but to go to college. The ultimatum from dad was military or college. It had to be one or the other. I eventually rebelled to the point of being expelled from UNLV during my third semester. Smoking weed outside of classroom doors while drinking liquor & oj laced with either cocaine or crystal meth didn't help me except that it helped me to numb the pain of that time of my life. It was avoidance therapy coupled with self medication.

The point is that I was raised by a lot of patriotic men and women: some of whom served in WWI, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom & other small skirmishes around the world. I'm grateful to & for each of them. Those who died in battle or had survived but with physical or psychological injuries and to those (at least one) who exited a war unscathed only to die in a tragic way shortly after returning home. I've been to too many veterans cemeteries for funerals, and Arlington has been a destination several times since childhood & I ALWAYS make time to go to the tomb of a soldier "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. Those I've known would probably be joining us if they were living in the here and now. Still, they're with us as we take pause to remember.

And that's it. 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 may not be curtailing them directly. No, it's by proxy via corporations and unelected bureaucrats working in the bloated, redundant, and unnecessary alphabet departments in the nation.