Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, a holiday set aside to remember those who have honorably served in America's armed forces, especially those who gave the nation their last full measure of devotion.

It's fairly commonly said, especially around days like this, that without the service and sacrifice of the military, Americans would not enjoy the freedoms we do.  While true enough, there's another side to that relationship.  Traditionally, as today, American forces have been volunteer forces.  People have volunteered to serve for various reasons through more than two hundred years, but mostly they've volunteered because they believed in America and its freedoms.  So the fate of America has never hung solely on the prowess of its military.  Rather, the nation has always relied on the devotion of its people, in the armed forces and out, to the cause of liberty.  That, too, should be remembered.