Dominic was born on Memorial Day, May 28, 1990. I had spent the weekend working in the yard without a thought that my son would soon be appearing. He wasn’t due for ten more days and so far, none of my children had been born “early”.
I wasn’t ready!
But he was determined to make his entrance on his own terms. And that’s pretty much how he did everything.
And then he left us-“early”.
I wasn’t ready for that either.
We celebrate Memorial Day with cookouts and fun family gatherings. But that isn’t what this day is for. This day has been set aside to remember those who died serving our country.
In war after war, families across America have been devastated by the deaths of their sons and daughters, many taken in the prime of life, at the dawn of adulthood.
Almost every family and community has a story of burying a promising young soul that was sure to make a difference but who never got that chance.
My father served and my son is now serving.
And to all the mothers and fathers whose sons and daughters gave the last full measure for their home and country, I say:
“Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for the love poured into the child that became the brave man or brave woman who would put his or her life on the line for what they believed in. Your toil bore much fruit that continues to bless others today.”
You have given up what no one has the right to ask of you.
You live with both the honor of your child’s legacy and the horror of your child’s absence.
And if your child survived the battlefield but could not survive the scars of war, I am so very sorry.
I understand the pain of missing the child you love, I hear your heart and I am praying for you.
As we gather with our families and enjoy freedom purchased with the blood of sons and daughters, may we REMEMBER.
May we honor the ones who gave everything they had to secure our liberty.
And may we remember the families left behind who can never forget.
The strongest love anyone can have is this. He will die to save his friends.
John 15:13 WE
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thelifeididntchoose 
Thank you so much for this. So many times in the three years since my son died your words have touched my heart, but never more so than today. My son, sadly, was one of the ones who survived the battle overseas, but succumbed to the horror that is PTSD. It has been so difficult to deal with because most people don’t consider his death “honorable.”
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Your son’s death is absolutely honorable. I am so very sorry. ❤️
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So well said!
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