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When I was a boy I don’t think I understood the meaning of Memorial Day.

I knew people got together to commemorate...to remember...and to pray.

But I thought of it as an old people’s holiday...I was just happy to be out of school.

Now I look back at that naive little boy and consider him a fool.

In high school and college, since I never had to fight, and it was a different time,

I hated everything about war...it’s reason and it’s rhyme.

I did not heed the lessons of war and the men and women who taught it.

I did not understand one could hate war...but have respect for those who fought it.

But now that time has slowly left it’s signature on me

I’ve come to realize my folly and see Memorial Day differently.

I know that when it comes to war…a strange randomness we must apply

I know some people are going to survive…and some are going to die

I know that those who die in war might be black or white or gay, 

I know they may be men or women...but they all die anyway.

I know that on Memorial Day we are able to put our differences aside

as we come together to commemorate every soldier who has died.

So on this and every Memorial Day…I’ll continue to wish all wars would cease

and continue thank all those who died in war...so that I may live in peace.

And while I’m on the subject…I’ll continue to hope and pray

we’ll find a way to put our differences aside…

not just today…

but every day.