It’s already Memorial Day. It may seem like we’re rushing to take advantage of spring—which finally arrived here in Minnesota. Maybe your holiday weekend plans include celebrating a graduation, gardening, going to a ball game or camping. However you spend your weekend, I hope you’ll join me in taking time to recognize and honor at least one veteran and their family.
If you haven’t heard me share my Honor Flight story—which I’ve come to call, “What am I doing on this flight?”—I can sum it up by saying it was a life-changing experience for me. In October 2010, Honor Flight Southwest Minnesota took 104 World War II Veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery/Changing of the Guard, Navy Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial and the Air and Space Museum. I will never be the same. What an incredible honor it was for me to serve as a guardian and volunteer on this well-organized flight. I am deeply grateful for all the veterans who participated.
And, this experience made me realize more clearly how important it is to thank our veterans.
This weekend we especially remember veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving our country, and those men and women who served but are no longer with us. We must never overlook what all generations of our veterans have done and continue doing for our communities, southwest Minnesota regional community, state and nation.
I wish you a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.
