Dear Editor,
Memorial Day is right around the corner (May 27), and it is a day to honor and mourn military personnel who gave their lives serving this great country.
These individuals left their homes and families, and some sacrificed for our Freedom. Their Freedom in the everyday Freedom and Freedom all enjoy.
As I let those thoughts sink in for a moment, I realized no level of gratitude could ever measure up to those who gave their all. Yet, recently, I had a moment of awareness that showed me that even with my aging, broken body, I could still honor these great men and women throughout the year.
We can help ensure these freedoms continue by being an informed voter and staying engaged with what is happening in our community. Start small by attending the monthly County Board of Commissioner meetings.
Please bring your children and grandchildren to participate in the process and value their freedoms. My husband fondly remembers attending meetings with his grandmother as a child. She dragged him along when they needed more bodies in attendance.
Just like back then, these meetings today usually have very few attendees, yet decisions are being made that will impact your lives and our community for years to come. Your voice can make a difference, so please make it heard.
Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never freedom one generation away from extinction.
We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and passed on for them to do the same, or one day, we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States, where men were free.”
As people gather for this solemn holiday, I challenge everyone to find a way to honor and remember these great men and women who served and died for our freedoms and make this Memorial Day more meaningful for a weekend and throughout the year.
Sincerely, Jennifer Ray Putnam County