A Minute with Drexel: The heart of Memorial Day

Yahoo

25-05-2025

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) – While Memorial Day may conjure up images of crowded beaches, parades, and patriotic picnics, the holiday has a more meaningful reason for being observed. News 5's Drexel Gilbert is thinking about that very important reason, and of how we can all honor the sacrifices that have been made in the name of freedom. Here's this week's Minute with Drexel:
Hey, y'all! I hope you are having a nice Memorial Day weekend!
Lots of us have different reasons for observing Memorial Day. Here on the northern Gulf Coast, Memorial Day is the official start of summer! And for others, it's a time for the beach, or backyard picnics, or… in the case of my family… celebrating a wedding!
But, the true meaning of Memorial Day is much more significant. It's a day set aside to honor the men and women who died in service to our country.
Across the United States, graves are decorated, flags are flown, memorials are visited and people far and wide say a whispered 'thank you' to the brave ones who lost their lives working to preserve our freedoms.
So… how are you celebrating Memorial Day this year? As I've suggested to you in years past, perhaps we can remember and honor those who died in service by offering our own service. We don't have to enlist in the military to do that. We can honor those who fought and died for peace and safety by simply becoming better humans.
We can choose to sow peace instead of discord… starting in our families, our neighborhoods, our communities, and the workplace. We can pray, as did St. Francis of Assisi… 'Lord make ME an instrument of your peace.'
We can smile more and gripe less. We can stop making catty- and even hateful- comments on social media… I mean, what good comes of that anyway? We can be kind instead of self-centered. We can give, instead of reaching for more. We can look for those who are hurting, and try to help them heal. Just a few ideas. I'm sure you can come up with more!
To all the heroes whose names and lives will be remembered this Memorial Day… thank you. May those of us who follow behind you work hard to be better and live better in memory and honor of your service and your sacrifice.
And that's your Minute with Drexel.
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