"Each of the patriots whom we remember on this day was first a beloved son or daughter, a brother or sister, or a spouse, friend, and neighbor."  ~ George H. W. Bush

I'm thinking first of my dad. He didn't lose his life during WW II, but he came close. He often showed me the bullet that lodged next to his heart and told me the story of being shot in the chest, how it felt, and how lucky he was to recover.

This leads me to think of all those who did lose their lives. Let's honor them with reverence and appreciation for being patriots and for who they were as precious members of our human family with wants and needs, wins and losses, and dreams and disappointments. 

For their sacrifices, I pray we respect, protect and uphold our Constitution and do our part to advance the true ideals of our democracy.
 
My prayers today are also for peace within us, among us, and for all the world.

Amen,
Charlene