A Tuesday Reflection on a Monday Memorial Day ... So Many Things To Be Appreciative For, Especially Freedom

Tunga learned last week that the deterioration in his cornea means that he would never be able to serve in any branch of the military - a blow to a young man who had service to the United States as his top priority. Conversations since the news broke have been additional ways a man (and woman) can give back to one's country if they are not allowed to be armed and defending freedom overseas.

Yesterday morning, I got up and noticed that most of Stratford was setting up chairs along Main Street in anticipation of a Memorial Day parade. I ran home to regroup and walk to join the festivities. Tunga was running at St. Mary's and dropping his Aunt off in Bridgeport, and unfortunately couldn't join me.

There's something about a parade to honor veterans and service men that makes me extremely appreciative and humbled. The men and women who marched yesterday, from WWII to Iraq, represent the boldest and most dedicated Americans our nation has. I grew someone cynical watching obese children screaming at their parents to buy them a $20 blow up toy while double fisted with ice cream cones and pretzels...somehow, though, I saw this as a sign of what happens to the children of a nation who are protected. They feel entitled and have no clue what was sacrificed so they could whine at a parade.

It was also great to see Jim Blumenthal and Rosa DeLauro marching in the parade. I've worked with them in DC, but sometimes forget that their political offices are in southern Connecticut. They are good people, stellar Democrats, and devoted minds for America's future.

After the parade, we packed up and spent the day at Short Beach playing volleyball with several home-from-college kids and high school students. The mouths on many of them were rather severe and the music they played from their duffle bags was ornery and inappropriate for a pubic beach. I kept my mouth shut, though. This comes with freedom and even if I wondered when America shifted so that there was no public boundary or respect for appropriate/inappropriate, I let it go. This is what results because of the service and sacrifice of others.

And, with this, we closed the day with watching Saving Private Ryan.

This, we should never forget.