When my father was alive, one of my favorite activities was to go through his pictures of World War II. He served in the Army Air Corp in India. His unit helped build the Burma Road. He had stories to tell of being on narrow roads, being ambushed, swimming with sharks in the Indian Ocean, and having monkeys for pets. It all seemed so long ago in a time that I could only imagine.

When my son graduated from high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps. As any mother, I worried and fretted over his safety, even though it wasn’t during war time. He would come home and tell me stories of venturing across the arctic circle with the Norwegian military, being part of the task force in Panama when we relinquished control fo the canal, and hiking up Mt. Fuji with Japanese soldiers.

In honor of Memorial Day, following are a few posts that I’ve written with this theme in mind:

The military academies and ROTC in college

Scholarships for military dependents

5 Things military parents should know about college

As you celebrate Memorial Day, remember the sacrifice that so many have made to protect our freedom. And enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.