Many people confuse Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. And then there's Armed Forces Day thrown into the mix to confound folks even more. Consequently, those currently serving in the military as well as veterans are often wished a Happy Memorial Day, Happy Veteran's Day and Happy Armed Forces Day, all in the same year, year after year.
Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May and honors those currently serving in any branch of the military. Veteran's Day is November 11th and honors those who once served in the military. And Memorial Day is the last Monday in May and honors those who died while serving in the military.
We were in Williams, Arizona on May 18th and a shopkeeper asked us if we wanted a small American flag to wave when the bikers came in an hour or so. She said they were a group who were riding to Washington, D.C. for Memorial Day. We were intrigued and decided to wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.
I noticed a man and his wife (and their cute dog!) seemed to be waiting, too. I asked if they knew anything about the bikers that were coming and the man smiled and said, "Why yes I do. They are bikers from all over who have served in the military or know someone who did. Most of them are Viet Nam veterans and they are part of the Run For The Wall organization." We started talking and it turns out he is a Viet Nam vet who is a member of the group but broke off early that day to meet up with his wife.
Run For The Wall's mission is to "promote healing among all veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those killed in all wars (KIA), and to support our military personnel all over the world." One way they accomplish that is their ten-day ride from California to Washington, D.C., arriving Memorial Day weekend. I was told that they ride for those who can't. There are so many bikers going this year that they added a third route with SEVERAL HUNDRED bikers in each group.
I asked him a jillion questions and he told me a jillion stories. In what seemed like no time at all, it was time for the bikers to arrive. The police cleared the streets and folks lined up to cheer them on. It's like that in every city they ride through or stop in all across the country.
(This is the very end of the parade of bikers... hundreds went before these... but you get the idea!)
They meet at the Viet Nam Memorial (aka the Wall) when they arrive in Washington, D.C. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them. They run their fingers over the names of friends who didn't make it home. It's a time to remember fallen comrades in arms. They lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery.
While this Monday is a day to remember those who have died while serving our country, I think it's also appropriate to remember, to pray for the POWs and MIAs and their families. May we never forget.
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