Memorial Day Is For Those Who Did Not Make It Home

Memorial Day is not a day for us, military caregivers, or any service member or veteran currently living. It is the day that we leave out that extra drink at the bar. Or a slice of lemon on the bread plate at the missing-man table.

Memorial Day is for those who did not make it home. It is for those who fought bravely until their last breath in hospitals such as Walter Reed. It is for those 22 veterans a day who came home physically, but never left the battle and ultimately lost their own private war.

It is a day when many who survived deal with their own survivor’s guilt. When we visit the graves, uniform white tombstones, and nothing else is left.

Some military caregivers fear Memorial Day, an ambiguous feeling, wondering if next year we’ll be mourning our service member or veteran. We grieve a lot, but not the grief of a widow, or a parent losing their child, not yet.

So here’s to those who are no longer with us. We love you, we miss you, and thank you for being a part of our lives. Memorial Day is your day and we’ll remember you, in memory, now and forever.

(The Washington Times)