On this Memorial Day I want to say thank you to every veteran of the United States Armed Forces past and present who has given everything to keep this nation I live in free.
I happened to stumble across the following post on Facebook from the Charlotte County, Florida Sheriff's Department located in Punta Gorda.
Happy Memorial Day 2021!
The rifle is affixed with a bayonet and inverted, signifying that the service member went down fighting. The boots signify the service member’s last march onto the battlefield. Dog tags are imprinted with the service member’s name and hung from the rifle so their identity will never be forgotten. The helmet is placed atop the rifle representing what the service member stood for and signifying that their battle is now over.
The Battlefield Cross is a sacred symbol amongst military members. Since a funeral is typically not possible during wartime, these symbols serve as a rallying point where surviving members of a unit can mourn and remember their fallen comrades.
Memorial Day is not for the veteran—Soldier, Sailor, Airmen or Marine, but for our fallen comrades. This Memorial Day, reach out to the veterans that you know and give them a simple message: “We Remember.” We remember our country’s fallen, your brothers and sisters, and we appreciate and honor their sacrifice.
-unknown author
