“Did you have a nice Memorial Day weekend?” Isn’t that what people ask after the three-day federal holiday. The unofficial start of summer.

Although now, three days post- do you remember what you did this weekend? Or are you onto thinking about the upcoming one?

I’ve been thinking about freedom. I realize that I take freedom for granted. Unfortunately I always have and ashamedly, probably always will. Much as I would hope that I have an affinity for those in the military and their families, I probably think of them and the meaning of their service as I do the Memorial day holiday- infrequently.

It has been during these last pandemic fourteen months that any type of freedom has hit home. Because of lock-down, there wasn’t the freedom of movement that we once enjoyed. There were limitations to supplies and services. There were altered schedules. There was an assault/question (depending on one’s leanings) to the process of democracy. There were even long lines to get into grocery stores! All types of societal behavior to which we are unaccustomed. No more was there the instant gratification of impulse, “Let’s go here and do this or purchase that,” whenever we felt like it.

We are used to coming and going as we please. We are used to all the supplies and services that we can afford. We are used to freedom: in our thoughts, in our expressions, in our actions and in our speech.

Do we ever think how we can be so free?

I am in awe of the military men and women who exhibit incredible courage, judgement, and skill to put their lives on the line for the rest of us- who provide the means for us to be free while ironically do not have much freedom during their active service (military precision, being “one” unit, following orders).

Over the holiday, our family watched the Tom Hanks WWII movie, Greyhound. While it is a fictional tale (no real Captain Krause) it is historically accurate to the setting of the Battle of the Atlantic. The movie tells of the harrowing hours of “the black pit” when supply convoys to the Allies from the US are vulnerable to attack from German U-boats. Convoys traversed the Atlantic Ocean to provide aide to the allies during WWII. At both ends of the journey the convoy receives air coverage to spot and eliminate German U-boats. However there is a time (sixty hours) in the “middle” of the journey when the convoy does not have air coverage and they are vulnerable to attack. There are destroyer ships that patrol and try and protect the convoy but as is with all war, once bombs and torpedos begin moving, things get very confusing for all parties.

At one point, the captain of the destroyer, played by Tom Hanks is very troubled and discouraged by the loss of lives from one of the convoy ships. He had a choice to help the ship and possibly eliminate the enemy or stop and get survivors. He chose the survivors. He voices his regret on not making better decisions because the choices and options he has going forward is now limited. He (Captain Krause) says, “I wouldn’t need to take this risk if I’d been smarter yesterday.” To which his Lieutenant Commander Cole says, “What you did yesterday got us to today.”

While I know this post is “late”, it was done so deliberately: we should never forget those who have served and sacrificed. They are the ones who have gotten us to today. Memorial Day 2021 may be over, but our freedoms live on each day.

May we never forget.

May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right. Peter Marshall

Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it. Pericles