I appreciate the solemnity of Memorial Day

In the mid-1990s, when my son, Joshua, announced that he had enlisted in the Army, I felt nervous, yet proud of his decision to serve his country. When Kuwait was becoming increasingly unstable, Joshua called to say his unit was awaiting word on whether they would be sent to that region. I prayed earnestly for my son’s protection, holding my breath for his return. Thankfully, a few years later, Joshua came home unharmed, never having gone to Kuwait. Thousands of families of service membe