I know this is a bit delayed... but, I thought I would still share it.

Being the sister of a current military soldier and the stepdaughter of a Vietnam veteran and the daughter of a peacetime soldier and as an American, I thought that it would be appropriate to actually show my children WHY they had Memorial Day off of school.

So, Jason and I took them to the nearest place to us that would reflect the meaning of Memorial Day. We headed out to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

Wow.

We were there before the crowd began to gather for the ceremony. We couldn't actually stay for the ceremony because of Kennedy's soccer game (hence the uniform), but we thought we would still take the time to show the kids a very small part of the sacrifice millions of Americans have made so that my kids could be raised and be proud of a free country.

I know that America isn't Utopia, and I know we struggle with immorality, but I am proud to be an American. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifices that so many soldiers and families have made for our nation. For me. For my children.

The kids were in awe as they walked around the cemetery, examining the headstones to see in what war the veteran had served. We didn't see the grave of the soldier from the Civil War, but maybe we will return someday to find it.

I want my children to know that our freedom wasn't and isn't free. I want my children to be proud of their nation.

About the photo - I'm sorry if it was inappropriate for me to take a picture of the headstones with names on them. And, my kids asked if they were not supposed to smile. I told them that they should because they are grateful for the lives of these men and women.