It’s Memorial Day. What’s your plan? How are you going to spend this extra holiday?

Years ago I saw a Memorial Day cartoon depicting a car driving down a country road with a military cemetery in the background. The driver says, "Picnic blanket? Cooler? Charcoal grill? Frisbee? Did we forget anything?"

Sadly, many of us forget to remember why we have the day off. It’s not only our opportunity but our duty to stop our busy lives at least for a respectful moment to feel and express gratitude to the more than 600,000 men and women who have died in service of our nation, to keep us safe and preserve our way of life.

This duty is even more compelling now as the list of those we should honor grows every day. Take a moment to thank and think about all the men and women who have lost, and sadly those who will lose, their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Perhaps you can share some readings with your family, such as this poem from Linda Ellis:

Today, let’s bow our heads in honor of, and
Promise to remember often,
Those heroes who faced our enemies, but
Returned in a flag-draped coffin.

Though we cannot embrace their weathered
Necks nor shake their hands of toil,
We can instill our gratitude in every step that
We place on American soil.

For they gave us all they had to give -- and what
Could such a gift be worth?
'Tis a debt that could never be repaid with
Anything found on earth.

But we can give them something in return by
Ensuring their spirit is implanted
In our hearts...our minds...our daily lives by
Never taking this freedom for granted.

Here’s to those who fought in years gone by or
Defended freedom just yesterday
So that we may continue to live our lives in the
Cherished "American Way."

You can view the full poem at www.lindaslyrics.com.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.