Remember

In the song “Times Of Your Life” Paul Anka asks “Do you remember?  Do you remember, the times of your life”.  It’s a song that get’s used at reunions and during slide shows at anniversary and birthday parties.  It’s a great question though. 

We all remember the important moments and the big events.  We even remember the mistakes we’ve made and the sadder moments in our lives.  I guess the goal is to end up with more of the former than the latter.  Some of the things we choose to remember are strange.   Some are incredibly funny.  We share those memories with each other often.  We never have to be prodded to remember these times of our lives, they are just there, ready to be recalled at will.

But then there are other things we are reminded to remember.  For instance we have an entire day dedicated to remembering those who have given their lives so that we can enjoy our lives of freedom.  That day of course was today, Memorial day.  For the first time in many years I joined in the Woodside Memorial day parade.  My mother in law was the Grand Marshal which is what led me back to this annual event.

When I arrived memories came flooding back of parades past.  It’s a very different parade today.  It’s not as crowded as it once was, but it is still done well thanks to the C.W.V. Post 870.  Don’t get me wrong, they had a very good crowd, but compared to 15 or 20 years ago, just like Woodside, it's a different place..  However,  the most impressive thing I noticed is that as the parade moved through Woodside, and at every single stop along the way, people stopped what they were doing.  They paid attention, they paid the proper respect.  As we stood outside the C.W.V. on 61st street I looked up to the LIRR platform and saw several people looking down, holding their hands over their hearts as Taps was played.

Here’s the thing, how many of those people would have taken a moment today to remember what Memorial days is all about?  And to me, that’s an issue.  I think we have it all backwards.  I think we should remember every day, and then have a holiday weekend where we can maybe forget about everything.

You see, we too often say, I’ll take care of that tomorrow, or I’ll wait till Memorial day to remember.  But you never know when you will run out of tomorrows.  The men and woman who have died for this country sure didn’t know.  But you have today.  Remember today.  Live for today.  They died so you could.

As always, until next time, stay safe!

later,
dan

"My karma tells me, You've been screwed again! If you let them do it to ya, you've got yourself to blame! It's you who feels the pain! It's you who takes the shame!"