The traditional respite afforded by the year’s first major holiday makes it very easy to shunt aside its original purpose of honoring our American soldiers.

Whatever the official calendar may say, Memorial Day weekend marks for most people the real beginning of summertime. The overwhelming majority of Americans look forward to an extended weekend of cookouts and recreation/relaxation with family or friends. So do I.

The traditional respite afforded by the year’s first major holiday makes it very easy to shunt aside its original purpose of honoring the millions (yes, there have been that many) of American soldiers who have given up all of their tomorrows so we could enjoy our fun-filled weekend as part of the freest, most prosperous society in the history of mankind. It is also a time to pay tribute to all of the surviving veterans and active duty U.S. military personnel who in the past or present have put themselves in harm’s way on our behalf.

In a perfect world, we would all take an hour or two out this coming weekend to lay flowers at a military grave, visit a VA hospital or do other good deeds for service personnel. Realistically, few of us are that committed. But there are smaller things each of us can do that would take even less time, such as:

• Make it a point to say thank you when you see military personnel in the course of your travels and day-to-day encounters. Buy them a drink or give them a business discount or freebie.
  
  
• Visit www.homesforourtroops.org, and make a donation.
  
  
• Visit www.hireheroesusa.org, or www.fedshirevets.gov, or www.vetjobs.com, or other job boards aimed at boosting employment opportunities for military veterans. Register your company and get a leg up on employing people of skill and character.

Spread the word about doing all these things and more. Let’s start a viral marketing campaign to convince fellow Americans that Memorial Day is a day for remembering.

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