Honoring the Meaning of Memorial Day
On Sunday morning, I had the profound honor of placing American flags at gravestones in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. It wasn’t my typical Memorial Day weekend activity — we’re usually at the lake.
I’m no stranger to patriotism, and I have a deep, abiding respect for our Armed Forces and those who serve. But standing among the rows of names, pausing at each marker, something settled in my spirit. The experience offered a needed reset—a shift in perspective that reminded me what this day is truly about.
I grew up as a military child—my father flew fighter jets. I later married my husband while he was serving in the Army. Thirty years have passed, and now my son serves as an Army aviator. A life of service runs through our story. Patriotism and respect for this country are part of who we are, and there isn’t a day I’m not profoundly grateful for those who choose to serve.
As I knelt in front of one of the tombstones, I was reminded that the freedom to enjoy a long weekend, to gather with loved ones, or to rest and play — comes at a cost. That cost was paid by men and women who gave everything. People we will never know, but who loved enough to lay down their lives so that we could live ours in freedom.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
Although I didn’t recognize the names on those gravestones, each one represented a person who, at some point in our nation’s history, chose service over self — so we might live in liberty.
This Memorial Day, here at Cup and Pillar Mercantile, we pause to honor those who paid the ultimate price. The day isn’t about decor or discounts—it’s about gratitude. It’s about remembering the families who live with an empty seat at their table. And it’s about honoring the memory of each person who gave their life for something greater than themselves.
So as you gather this weekend—whether at the beach, the lake, with friends, or quietly at home—take a moment to remember. Let your joy be deepened by the sacrifice that made it possible. Let your freedom be honored by the way you live.
With gratitude, always.
