Freedom Doesn't Come Free

I love when my better half comes home for the weekend and chooses to do not much of anything. He opens up my world when he does this! With what little time we have together lately we try to make it count. Much more often that not, Triton wants to spend his free time doing stuff, mostly active stuff. So every weekend we tramp off to this State Park or that city to ride bikes or explore. We are at a place right now where we are both exhausted and mind-numb. So, this morning, when he got home, we tried to discuss some sort of quality time, activity to do. Neither of us was instrumental in figuring something out. So he starts to channel surf and settled on a documentary-type program showcasing section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. The show took us through several months, including the holiday season, in this section of the National Cemetery. While I am well aware that many people have died to protect my freedoms, this program gave me an up close view of what the families of these heroes continue to go through resulting from their loved one's ultimate sacrifice. There were parents, wives, husbands, children, siblings, and friends of the fallen who visit  these grave sites regularly. These people see each other every time they go to the cemetery and have connected through their shared grief and sacrifice. I can't imagine the devastating losses that these people have endured. But watching the program has certainly opened my eyes a little wider and strengthened my gratitude towards all of America's fallen heroes.
It was particularly powerful and humbling, for me, to see the Asian-born parents of a fallen soldier, and a Muslim couple as well as Latin-born parents mourning the loss of their children who died fighting for American ideals and freedoms that most of us take for granted.
I urge each of you to take some time this weekend to forget about your own personal agenda and reflect on how and why you are able to live the life you live, to have the things you have, and to speak your mind openly. Please remember our fallen heroes this Veteran's Day.

*Check out these links:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/section60-hbo-film-001.htm
http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/section-60-arlington-national-cemetery/index.html