Every year, I feel mixed emotions when it comes to Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Although they serve similar purposes, each day celebrates two different sets of military service members. As a United States Army veteran, I am not offended if someone says “Happy Memorial Day, Thank you for your service” to me. I simply accept the kind words and take a moment to  educate them on what Memorial Day represents. I appreciate the thought and  sentiment, but Memorial Day is not for me.  So, here is an overview of the differences between the two days to clear things up. 

Memorial Day is a day of  remembrance for service members who have died in combat or members we have lost over the years. My late husband was a Navy veteran, and every year,  I think of him and remember what he did for our  country and reflect with our daughter, Abi, about her dad. Memorial Day is also a time of reflection for our country to see how far we have come. If not for those fallen heroes, we would not have all that we do today. 

Veteran’s Day is our day to honor our veterans. This is the day that we celebrate our service members who are still able to work within the community and open more  doors for our veteran rights and healthcare. I enjoy when someone says “Happy Veterans Day” to me. It gives me a chance to smile and tell them how much I enjoyed serving my country and how much I wish I were still able to do it. My favorite part of this day is attending Veterans Day dinners with other fellow military veterans  and listening  to the friendly banter between military branches. I also love hearing some of our older veterans tell their stories from when they were in service. There is so much to learn from our veterans, and this day gives us the opportunity to show them the love  and respect that they have earned because not everyone has the ability to become a military member.

On this Memorial Day holiday, remember the focus of why we celebrate. No, it is not for the barbecue and day off of work. Without the fallen service members, we would be unable to celebrate and have the opportunity to party. We were given this freedom because of these heroes, and, yes, it is great to barbecue with family members, friends, and perhaps even  fellow veterans to remember our fallen comrades. But remember the reason’s. Respect the day. Maybe even hug a veteran because they are remembering their fallen brother’s and sister’s. Above all, remember that if not for all of  these wonderful service members, our lives may be drastically different.