Memorial Day 2026

Riverside Cemetery in my home town, Painesville, Ohio

"If you can read this, thank a teacher. 
If you can read this in English, thank a veteran."
From Honor Flight

My Dad with me and our son Brian at the WWII Memorial

by Skip Cohen
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I never know where I'm going with Sunday Morning Reflections until I sit down and start writing. Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and this morning Sheila got me thinking about the holiday. She commented about how strange it seems to wish people a Happy Memorial Day, a day honoring Americans who have died.

From Wikipedia about Memorial Day: Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

When I was a kid, I never really understood the importance of the day. I'd have to march in the band in the parade, and we'd finish at the park in town. At some point, there would be speeches, and a few guys in uniform who looked older than dirt would be honored. I had no idea what they had sacrificed, who they were, or what they had fought for.

As I got older, my appreciation grew, especially when I lost a friend or two in Viet Nam. I remember a trip to Washington with my own kids and visiting the Viet Nam Memorial and afterward, just sitting in the park in silence. Had it not been for that first lottery, I would have been drafted and likely known many of those names. Maybe my name would have been on that wall.  My silence and the tears as my eyes welled up were for so many lost lives.

Today, more people recognize the contributions of the men and women in our armed forces. For us, Memorial Day isn’t about politics; it's about solemn respect and deep gratitude for the men and women who serve our country every day.  And, I'd like to sneak in another group on this Memorial Day. Since we’re photographers and part of an amazing industry, it’s time to thank all the photojournalists around the world who help us understand the risks and the effort these men and women take.

So, to my Dad who served in WWII, our son Brian who spent his life in the military, to all my friends who served in Viet Nam, to my brother-in-law Randy who rarely took off his Marine baseball hat, and to every mother and father who have ever stood behind their military-bound sons and daughters, thank you.

It seems like such a trite, inadequate way to show appreciation, but we're here enjoying a quiet Memorial Day weekend, along with millions of Americans who will also enjoy the day, thanks to what all of you have given our country.

Make it a great weekend.  Don’t waste a minute of time…enjoy your family, your friends, and think about what Memorial Day really means. Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about, especially with the people you love the most. 

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"We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by!" 
Will Rogers