I loved watching the National Memorial Day Concert co-staring Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds star) and the Allstate spokesman Dennis Haysbert, plus some wonderful musical favorites. I think it was quite a salute to our American heroes who gave all for us. Wonderful patriotic songs filled my heart as I watched and listened. I already had a great Sunday morning at Mt. Bethel, and all the hymns we sung were about our country. For the choir special, we sang God Bless America, twice, and then our pastor told the congregation to stand and sing it with us. We had seen so many of them mouthing the words from their pews so she knew what she was doing when she had them join us.  We also held our hands over our hearts as we pledged allegiance to the beautiful flag next to the pulpit.

  I cooked a spicy pork loin for supper on Memorial Day, but before I served it, along with some Publix potato salad and my slaw, I decided I’d pick up some chicken strips too, from Chick-fil-A. As I walked in I saw a small round table but went ahead and got in line to place my order. In no time my name was called and I grabbed the bag, then stopped as I left, to look at the table. It was decorated with an empty plate, a candle burning, a rose in a vase, a couple of lemon halves on a tiny plate and an ornate board telling what each item meant … for a missing soldier. Wow! I thought this was a great idea so I posted about it on Facebook and it got lots of likes! Then a former classmate of mine posted a neat picture of the table with its plates and its Bible too. Wonderful way to recognize our heroes who left us too soon. Saw lots of other neat posts showing people enjoying a beach and flanked by a picture of soldiers protecting them. We really do need to recognize all those who serve and protect. I pray for them all, every morning and throughout the day; that they stay safe, and happy.  I know my Dad had PTSD but he still kept helping others, not just in his job as a mechanic and tow truck driver, but also as the volunteer fire chief.    Listening to WJGA this morning, I heard a presentation from their fire chief and smiled as he lifted up those who led in the past, and told about the current fire truck and how they used the old one for training. I wish I could have gone to the Memorial Day presentation at Heritage Park but did get to see some of it, via my laptop. (Neat, though I couldn’t get to a grandson’s graduation, again, I got to watch it via the internet.) A former pastor always leads the prayers for that Memorial Day joy in Henry County. There were at least two veterans leading us from the pulpit, and our current pastor has a family history of those who serve and he always takes us in the right direction as we remember those who serve and protect. As a mortgage loan officer, I met so many wonderful veterans, and as my processor bragged, they always had all their paperwork and never hesitated if we found we needed another item. I was taking an application one day, asked the veteran for his income papers and he handed over a sheet from the VA that showed he was paid each month for disability. He hadn’t acted disabled in the least but then I glanced at the bottom and saw that he’d lost two legs. He smiled as I thanked him for his service. Thank you all!