Memorial Day gives each of us a moment to remember those who have served this great country. Many of us have members of our family who gave up parts of their lives in order to help our country remain free. Sitting on my desk is a picture of two brothers before they headed off to war. One in the Air Force as a bombardier and the other in the Marine Corp as a paratrooper.

Our family was one of the lucky ones and got both brothers back in one piece. Even though they came back physically, they were forever changed by this experience of fighting for their country. They did not share many stories about their time in the military, but there was one in an autobiography which has impacted my life.

As a part of the Air Force, he was fighting with his unit on Iwo Jima trying to neutralize Mount Suribachi. They were fighting the enemy on their front, but had to worry about the snipers at their rear. This continued on for days, until, "Then on D-day plus 4 we saw it! The stars and stripes flew on top of Suribachi. What a glorious sight! Some shouted, some wept, some prayed to thank God for His help. All rejoiced at the sight of that tiny flag a top on iron pipe signaling a great psychological as well as tactical victory. Now we could keep our faces pointed north and concentrate on the enemy strength which lay ahead without worrying about the sniping action from the rear." Seeing this tiny American Flag flying in a far away country, brought overwhelming feelings to their hearts. They understood what this flag represents, and they gained strength from it. Reading this story, helped shape how I view the flag, and this country. How grateful I am for those who have fought to help each one of us keep our freedoms intact.

Take a moment today to look through your genealogy and find someone who has helped make this country a great place to live.

Happy Memorial Day!