This 2023 Memorial Day Tribute is dedicated to the remembrance of every soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, with special recognition to the heroes of the US Army 3rd Special Forces Group.
Say a prayer for this line of friends, and for their brothers who say it seems like it will never end.
"Call out our names as the years go by. Remember us, and we will never die."
It's 2023. It's been about 10 years since I answered the phone and found myself standing in line to get into a concert, while listening to someone choke out raw emotions about the death of his friends a few hours prior.
I still remember the rage, the agonized frustration, and the crushing sadness. He careened from laughter to tears as he recounted the mission that was their last. I remember almost leaving the venue because two hours into the conversation, he was calmer, but so depleted. He told me to stay where I was and enjoy the concert. He said it was time for him to sleep, and he would hold the image of me at a concert surrounded by excitement and happiness in his mind to help him rest.
Memorial Day brings memories of the storms in life. Winds come in gale force during times of war, constantly churning and making balance difficult. Firefights and IEDs are like manmade tornadoes - sudden, devastating, and often deadly. Prolonged attacks, like hurricanes, churn relentlessly, delivering confusion, injury and death. When they end, those still standing are left to sort through the ravages.
As with many facets of life, the brutal storm winds almost seem unrelated to the soft gentle breezes experienced on other days. It is difficult for us to reconcile the chaos along side the calming peace. However, such is the flow of life. There are times of unimaginable pain that bring anger and hopelessness. There is joy and beauty that brings renewal and hope.
We never forget the feelings and emotions and turbulence of a terrifying tempest, so let's remember to pause on Memorial Day in remembrance of the ones who gave everything to protect peace and routine in our daily lives.
Celebrate life and enjoy the laughter and love, but take a moment to acknowledge those who willingly sacrificed all to protect our freedom. Stop to look at the trees and grasses blowing in the wind. Recognize the smells from the cookouts, flowers, and freshly mowed grass wafting through the air. Feel the tiny gusts and currents brush by throughout the day and pick up in the evening.
Most importantly, breathe deeply. Inhale the air that surrounds us and recognize that life can change in an instant. Appreciate that we are here and alive, able to laugh and smile, and create memories. Remember those who now live on in the winds and memories. Like the breezes, they exist now in a place we cannot see, but we still feel their impact.
No rights to the music or video below. Shared in remembrance and gratitude.
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