Memorial Day has a different meaning for every American. Some spend it doing yard work, others go to the lake, enjoy picnics, eat barbeque and still others take a few minutes to watch a patriotic parade or visit a military cemetery.
For those who may not know the holiday was originally created to honor soldiers of the Union Army after the War Between the States and was called Decoration Day. It was later expanded to include veterans of "The Great War." (World War I)
The first Memorial Day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves in Charleston. The site chosen was a former Confederate prison camp and contained a mass grave of Union soldiers. The freed slaves re-interred the soldiers from the mass grave to individual ones, fenced it in, built an entry way arch and declared it a Union graveyard. 
One can only imagine the disgusting stench of the graveyard, the toil, sweat and name calling the former slaves likely had to endure while creating a Union graveyard in the deep south so soon after the end of the war. They literally risked their lives in an effort to respectfully thank those who did so much to stop secession and end slavery. Three years later, On May 30 1868 the freed slaves returned to the graveyard with flowers they picked and decorated the individual gravesites, creating the 1st Decoration Day.
Memorial Day was started by those who truly appreciated the blood sacrifice of others who fought and died so they could live free. Our nation has a proud heritage of supporting people fighting against tyranny, torture, abuse and neglect. As an American ...supporting those in other nations who are struggling for their freedom and independence is something to be proud of. It is a responsibility that we should accept with pride, honor and diligence, it is not something to condemn, ridicule or complain about.
Our all volunteer military is a very unique extension of our nation and its members deserve our prayers, praise and support.
Organizations such as "Code Pink" who routinely block the doors of recruiting stations, try to perform exorcisms on the Pentagon or point fingers and ridicule our troops should be thanking those who protect their right to exercise free speech. The terrible truth is that many organizations who disagree with government policy in regards to the war on terror, our invasion of Iraq or past military actions such as the war in Vietnam, exercise their right to free speech without recognizing or respecting those who defend that right. Nor do they tend to be responsible in the exercising of their right to vigorously protest.
Perhaps they should take some time from their busy schedule of protesting and collect care packages for soldiers or their families to help them make it through tough times. Maybe they should visit a burn center or other Veterans facility and talk to those returning from war with various mental and physical needs and give them moral support and compassion.
Perhaps they should travel to a third world country to see first hand the poverty that abuse, tyranny and neglect can cause. If they cannot afford the travel, they can do some research on the internet or visit with a charitable organization who is working in a war torn part of the world. It might help them understand why we are there or why we should be if we are not.
Then they can protest under more favorable conditions and in a much more responsible and respectable manner. Many protestors make such a spectacle or generate so much press as a "cause-celeb" that they take the focus off of what they were originally so passionately protesting in order to indulge in the attention available to them. The issue or policy is no longer the focus, they are.... and therefore they lose all credibility in the eyes of others observing them.
Likewise, our government leaders should be visiting the bases and neighborhoods of our troops to make sure that the families and loved ones are well taken care of. The marriages, children and immediate relatives of those involved in the military deserve support, not neglect. They deserve truth in the information they receive about their loved ones, forceful, timely support in regards to the access of military benefits and genuine, compassionate, reverent concern should the worst ever come to pass.
Between this Memorial Day and Independence Day in July, it is my opinion that we need to do all we can to support our military and strengthen the future security of our nation. At present there are several military funding bills being discussed by the office of the President and our nation’s congressional leaders. I would encourage every American, regardless of political views or affiliation to contact their state senator, district congress person and the office of the President and demand the following;
1. A pay increase of 4% for those in the military based on rank, time in service and hazardous duty assignment. (Currently our leaders are considering a range between 3% and 3.9% which is ridiculous.)
2. Truth and full disclosure in regards to the release of death records and daily action reports as long as it will not negatively impact national security by putting others at risk. (No spouse, child or relative deserves to be stone walled in regards to the disclosure of medical or other service records)
3. No other unrelated pork barrel spending bills may be attached to any current or future military spending bills. (Our leaders should be ashamed for even considering attaching other spending measures to those that are specifically for this nation’s defense.)
4. The immediate development of a bipartisan energy policy that includes the following;
a) The release of fuel from our strategic oil reserves.
b) Suspension of the national gas tax for one year and to compensate we would divide the normal gas tax revenue and shift it to the consumption or "sin taxes" on cigarettes, drinking alcohol and adult movies and magazines.
c) The approval of responsible drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge and more drilling within the United States and its waters.
d) Immediate creation of three new domestic oil refineries.
e) Immediate approval of the building of up to 50 new nuclear power plants
f) Allow the growth and cultivation of hemp and sugar cane for the making of fuel and related products such as high strength fibers.
g) The creation of new renewable energy plants in conjunction with our allies that include solar, wind, hydro electric and clean coal.
h) The immediate reduction of income tax paid by all businesses and individuals by 2% who immediately adopt a policy of working from home at least one day per week.
These suggested policies should help provide some framework for lawmakers to work from and would help satisfy the fuel consumption concerns of the business community, individual tax payers, environmentalists and global warming alarmists alike.
These ideas may not be perfect but I think it is a step in the right direction and represents policies that could be easily discussed in order to find common ground for immediate action.
The goal is to honor the service and sacrifice of those serving in the military while strengthening or nation and reducing at least one of the reasons we have for entering into combat in the first place.