Revering soldiers before, during and after Memorial Day

It’s rare to see a soldier close up. I saw a young man dressed in his military uniform going up the escalator in Kohl’s in Valley Stream earlier this month.
I could not take my eyes off of him. What bravery , I thought …what courage. I wanted to ask him about his service but decided to just let him be. I missed an opportunity to learn more about how today’s soldiers feel about their service to the military.
Soldiers are not around us. We don’t see them in uniform too often. They are out of mind. 
We should be giving them our utmost thanks. Whether they agree or not with our foreign policy they are out there getting the job done as best they can while risking their lives tour after tour to keep us safe.
Memorial Day should mean more than just a special shopping day.

We see ceremonies on the television. Honorees and gravestones. People paying respects with pained expressions and tearful eyes. They have lost their loved ones and their hopes for the future are as buried as the flagged coffins the soldiers lie in.
Our soldiers are volunteers. They were not drafted. That makes them even more courageous.
Keep the military in mind this Memorial Day.
Remember the veterans who fought in Word War II.
Remember those who were drafted to serve in Vietnam, some who went against their will to fight a war that  proved to be unjust.
Give thanks to those who enlisted in both wars in the Middle East, whether you thought they were necessary or not.
Remember each day the young men and women who are dropping bombs on ISIS to in an effort keep us safe.
Memorial Day is a holiday that must have the reverence it deserves.  

Weinberger is a North Woodmere resident.