The First Coast Tea Party is one of many organizations who places a wreath at the Veterans Memorial Wall located at 1145 East Adams Street, adjacent to Everbank Stadium on Memorial Day.  The event is hosted by the City of Jacksonville.  This is a beautiful event and each year those who lost their lives in the prior year are honored and their names are added to the granite monument.  It is a solemn occasion yet it is also a celebration of a life of someone who was willing to lay down his life for his fellow man and for the cause of freedom.

I’ve never had any loved one killed in the line of service.  I can’t relate to how it must feel.  I can only imagine the pain and probably do not come anywhere near fully understanding it.    

We see the news reports.  We see the crowd who stands along the highway welcoming the solider home for his funeral.  We see the articles written about the young man or woman gunned down too early in life.  We see all the potential lost forever for that one soul.

At each year’s event, some of the family members speak and try to capture the person’s life for those in attendance.    There is laughter and there are tears for a person we have never met. 

Last year I sat with a family member who was late getting to the Wall.  She was the sister of one who was going to be honored.  She was a young woman in early 20’s.  When it was time for the family to stand for the wreath placing near their loved one’s name on the wall, she, her husband and a young boy went forward.  Afterwards she came back and sat next me.

When the event was over, I turned to her and said, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

I did not expect her answer.  She stared at me with the saddest eyes I have ever seen and said,  “What did he die for?”  She shook her head and turned her eyes downward.  For once in my life, I was at a loss for words.  I knew the answer was “freedom” or “liberty” but those two words seemed inappropriate at that moment.  I imagined that she desperately wanted her brother back and was struggling to make sense of her loss.

I was embarrassed and felt as if I had intruded into her world and her pain.  Although hundreds of people stood at the wall, sang songs of freedom, placed wreaths in memory of and wore red poppies on our lapel – none of us really understood the deep, emotional pain of losing a loved one to war. 

I think of that young woman often especially when I hear of another young man or woman dying in these wars.  Just a few weeks ago another young soldier who recently graduated from a local high school – was killed in Afghanistan.  Next year his family will stand at the wall as his name is placed there for eternity.  Another young man’s future will end with his name etched on a piece of granite.

We look forward to Memorial Day because we get a 3-day weekend and it signifies the beginning of another summer.  Families will bar-b-que, kids will play in blown up pools, the beach will be filled with the smell of suntan lotion and the grocery store will have hamburger and hotdog buns on sale in the middle aisle.  And while we are all having fun, family members will place a wreath next to the name of a loved one who died.

I hope you will take time to attend the Memorial Day Service at the Veteran’s Wall at 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 30^th.  Bring your children or grandchildren to this special event and teach them about the price of sacrifice.  You will have plenty of time to bar-b-que and spend time with your family afterwards. 

Stand and watch as the family members give their child, brother, son, daughter, wife or mother, one last hurrah for the life they lived.  Their death should not go unnoticed especially by those of us who will benefit from it.

There are too many names on that Wall and more will follow in the years to come.  Wars will be fought and lives will be lost.  Some wars are understood by all mankind and others are challenged. 

On this Memorial Day, remember that we have a future because they gave up theirs.  Show their family your support by attending the event Monday.  For more information, you can find it online at:  http://www.coj.net/Welcome/Upcoming-Events/All-Events/Memorial-Wall...