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Take time out of your Memorial Day plans to recognize our veterans

Subhead
For What It's Worth
Lead Summary
By
Rick Peterson, Star Herald General Manager

If you haven’t notice already, today’s edition of the Star Herald has a number of mentions of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.
Today’s editorial reminds us of the many blessings we have as free citizens because of the sacrifices that tens of thousands of American servicemen and servicewomen have given to our country. Those sacrifices were not only for our benefit but also for the benefit of foreign lands many of us had never heard of.
Be sure to check out Page 8B in this issue also. Highlighted on the page are the special events that are scheduled for this weekend, starting with the Rock County Memorial Candlelight Vigil Sunday at dusk. Also listed are the Memorial Day services for Luverne, Hills, Beaver Creek and Hardwick, as well as the Minnesota Veterans Home program.
When I think about holidays throughout the year, Memorial Day is the one that gives me the most reason to pause.
We give thanks at Thanksgiving, we rejoice at Easter, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior at Christmas, and on the Fourth of July we set off fireworks to toast our independence.
But for good reason, Memorial Day is different, or at least I think it should be. In a way we are able to be thankful, we are able to rejoice, we are able to celebrate the birth of Jesus and have a picnic on the Fourth of July because of the sacrifices of those we honor on Memorial Day.
My Memorial Day emotions run the gamut from sadness, to appreciation, to humbleness, to sheer admiration for the men and women who gave their lives to their families that suffered the loss of a loved one in service to our country.
To all veterans that stand tall, that stand proud, because of them we stand together as free American citizens.

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