Remembering the reason behind Memorial Day

I know it’s a day late, but I spent part of my Memorial Day at La Crosse’s parade then went over to Oak Grove Cemetery for ceremonies there.  

As I was going through the cemetery, I couldn’t help but reflect on the sacrifices my family made. 

My uncle Charles (the family called him Sonny), died in 1944 in Belgium in the Battle of the Bulge. My middle name is his.  

While he was gone long before I was born, I wonder what it would have been like to know him. Maybe he’d have been the “cool” relative that everyone in the family likes to hang around with.  

In his speech on Monday at Oak Grove, Lt. Col Aaron Engel finished his remarks with “May their sacrifice inspire us, their memory sustain us, and their spirit live on in all that we do.” 

There are thousands or maybe millions of Charles’ for families across the country who will never get to know the soldier, the person they might have become.  

So even though it is the day after Memorial Day, we can still honor their courage and the sacrifice they made and try to keep their spirit alive and ultimately, be better in what we do in our homes and community because of them.  

As I see it, I’m Kevin Millard