Honoring Memorial Day

The United States Army. The Marine Corps. The Navy. The Coast Guard. The Air Force. These five branches of the military are comprised of courageous men and women who serve our country daily. They could be your son/daughter, sister/brother, a parent/grandparent, a neighbor, or a complete stranger. Regardless, they are the individuals who take an oath to protect us, our homes, and the lives we have grown accustomed to, while sometimes giving up their own. However one chooses to recognize this national holiday, it is truly a time for reflection.

In my 30 years in the United States Air Force, I had never really gotten the essence of what it is to serve until that time when our freedom and our liberty was truly threatened on September 11, 2001. The plane hit the Pentagon directly across the river from where I worked at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC. I felt the impact, but I didn’t know (the Pentagon had been hit) until I heard the news report on the radio.

The clear blue skies were marred by black smoke rising in the sky above the Potomac River. The scene coming across the river was the Pentagon with black smoke rolling out of it. It was like a very bad movie. Over Washington, it was a beautiful day on Sept. 11, 2001, but one stained by the smoke and flames of terrorism. It will be a day that I will never forget.

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America.

The good news is we have tremendous young men and women who serve this country exceptionally well. They do what they must do to defend our country and make sure that our families and all Americans get to live in freedom. Please join me in taking time on Memorial Day to honor those who gave their lives so our Freedoms continue. May God Bless our heroes, and our heroes survivors. And may God Bless this great country we call home.

Wishing all the readers of this blog a safe and reflective Memorial Day holiday,

Jeanne Gartner, CMSgt, USAF (ret)
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