Memorial Day thoughts

I grew up with May 30 as the “official” Memorial Day, and it still is stuck in my mind. So the yearly change of the national celebration slips by me.
I was awed by the 600,000-plus poppies put on the national memorial, celebrating all those brave men and women who have given their lives in defense of our country. A poppy for every veteran. I would love to see it--in technicolor. And the veterans who served and had the luxury of returning from the wars were remembered and celebrated also. Their stories were inspiring.
I think of when my sister and I visited Normandy. We walked on Omaha Beach, stood with countless others and, silently and reverently, looked at the white crosses and gold Stars of David--perfectly aligned, a straight line whichever way you viewed them--and stood in the shadows of the beautiful memorial. The sacrifices each of those veterans made are now cemented in my memory.