MEMORIAL DAY -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 ALL GAVE SOME --SOME GAVE ALL

As we go into Memorial Day 2021, the holiday has become a day of travel, of barbecues, shopping sales, a day off for many and the advent of the summer months in the United States. All these things are well, fine and good....but we must never lose the recognition and rememberance of what the day was originally started for.

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have fallen in the line of battle while serving our nation as a member of the Armed Forces. It's also a day to remember and give thanks for the families of those who "gave all to keep us free from tyranny and who served to protect our country". 

For our younger generation, the terms "World War", armed aggression and military action may not mean what they did to the members of older generations and citizens. It's sometimes hard to believe that some of the fine, hard-working student-athletes on the UofL campus were not born yet when the twin towers crumbled on 9/11/01. That they didn't experience the armed conflict in Vietnam. They have not known the U.S. involvement to defeat a fascist dictator.

And, maybe that's a good thing. It's something that we can hope, pray and wish never happens again on our shores or abroad. But, it's important to remember that it did happen and there were many who gave their lives to protect out democracy and freedoms. 

Many of our UofL student-athletes have parents or relatives who have, or our still serving, in protection of our country and to protect our way of life. It's not an easy thing to say that you are willing to put your life on the line to protect your neighbors and friends. 

Keep the importance of what Memorial Day truly means as you go through your activities today. Think of those who took an oath to protect these shores, our way of life and the freedoms we have that don't exist in other parts of this earth. Thank your parents, grandparents, relatives and friends of the family for what they sacrificed. 

I know, it's far from a perfect society, nation and world today. Violence in the streets, emerging from a deadly world-wide pandemic and crimes of hate against various ethnic and targeted groups. We can only hope for,  work for and strive for a day where these things do not exist. While we do that, also please keep in mind those who came before who gave us a society here where we have the rights to speak out about things we don't agree with, things that need change and things that are unjust, discriminatory and prejudice. 

And remember, some gave all for the freedoms that exist today. Ours is not a perfect world and many changes still must occur, but we do have many rights and privileges that some people in other countries and areas do not have. Those didn't "just happen", there were people who fought for, and some who ultimately died, to secure those for you. Let's honor those who did and those families they left behind.

Be thankful for what you've got. Sometimes it may not be a lot, but human will, the desire to succeed, flourish and grow have motivated many a man and women in this land of ours. Go get what you want...and lend a helping hand to those who have the same dreams as you but may need a helping hand to achieve it. We've come a long way, but, we still have a long way to go. 

I leave you today wishing you the best of everything. You are important and you are valued. Enjoy this great, old song about thankfulness. Remember those who have earned the right to be "thanked."  

William DeVaughn (Be Thankful For You've Got)

LINK:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N03w0jmdK8

Have a memorial Monday,

paulie