Today is the day we remember the military members who gave their lives for our country. As the widow of an active-duty service member, I understand the true meaning of this day. I attended the Virginia Beach Memorial Day Rememberance event. No campaigning for office, just paying homage to those who did not come home.
I remember my friend Ed who died just two weeks before we returned home from our seven month deployment onboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. It was his last deployment and he was going to put in to retire as soon as we got back to Norfolk Naval Base. He left a wife and three daughters behind.
And I remember Richard, a young Sailor who was killed by schrapnel metal on the flight deck. He died mid-deployment. He was working security even though he was an Aviation Storekeeper. A young life that was lost too soon.
Pictured above is a day at the beach during WWII. There were 2,499 causualties, of which 238 were deaths. Remember these people today too. They gave their lives for us.