Memorial Day

Today is Ella first Memorial Day . A day for me  until this year was just a 3 day weekend. This year my baby brother enlisted in the army. Why until now did I show no interest in this holiday ? We never talked about in school. My parent's never really mentioned anything. My friends just brushed it off as another day off of school.

I  decided today I would do some research on the holiday. A woman by the name of Moina Michael wrote this poem that was inspired by memorial day :

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

 It seems to signal to the skies

 That blood of heroes never dies.

She then went on to have the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day to honor those that had died protecting our freedom. She sold poppies to her neighbors and co-workers. Eventually this movement spread to other countries.

The national poppy movement died out in America. But in our home I want to start a new tradition. I want every year to take Ella to buy a poppy flower in rememberance of memorial day. We will talk about the brave men who fight for our country. Brave men like my brother. I pray for his safety everyday and I am beyond proud of my baby brother. He chose to be selfless and to help protect his country. Just like the thousands of men out there fighting to keep us safe.

Happy Memorial Day ! Never forget those men that gave it all up to protect us !