On a more somber note, Memorial day is a national holiday here in the United States where we remember the fallen soldiers of wars present and past. Some seem to have lost the meaning of it by taking vacations and throwing barbecues without remembering why they have the day off of work to begin with.
So, that being said, I will show you why we remember:
The White House announced Friday that a Pennsylvania soldier who jumped on top of a grenade in Iraq and saved the lives of his comrades will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor.
The nation's highest military honor will be given to 19-year-old Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis of Knox, Pa., on June 2.
McGinnis "distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism," said White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto.
McGinnis was perched in the gunner's hatch of a Humvee when a grenade sailed past him and into the truck where four other soldiers sat. He shouted a warning to the others, then jumped on the grenade. The grenade, which was lodged near the vehicle's radio, blew up and killed him.
Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, said McGinnis easily could have jumped out of the truck and saved himself.
"The instinct is, jump out of the vehicle, but his four buddies were in the vehicle with him ... and he chose to place himself on top of the grenade and absorb the impact, and it saved their lives," Edgecomb said.
McGinnis was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany.
He died on Dec. 4, 2006.
Three others have also been awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for their actions in Iraq. They are Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham.
When you speak of heroes, you speak of men like this. Celebrities, professional athletes, musicians, and others in the public eye aren't heroes when compared to men of the caliber of Mr. Ross McGinnis, Mr. Paul Smith, Mr. Michael Monsoor, and Mr. Jason Dunham.
Remember their actions when the time came to do what's right. Honor their memory by voting, teaching your children right from wrong, and defending our nation when it is needed.
If you know a veteran, tell him thank you. If you see a vet and his family in a restaurant, pick up the check if you can afford it. They'll remember that longer then you will and you'll both get a great feeling from it.
Travis
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