With San Diego being the biggest city in the country with the most military bases in the area, Memorial Day is probably more of an important weekend than it is in other cities.
Every day, thousands of Marines and sailors go to work at Naval Base San Diego, at Naval Base North Island on Coronado, at MCAS Miramar and at Camp Pendleton.
And they do it as volunteers choosing to serve their country and willing to go into battle and put their lives at risk to serve their country.
Over the decades of San Diego being the military town that it is, thousands of these brave men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice in hostile places around the world and even in the sometimes dangerous training that goes on every day the bases here where they learn to do their sometimes dangerous duty.
Sadly, for many of us, Memorial Day has become known more as the unofficial start of the summer vacation season and a time for burgers, barbeques and beer and time with family.
But according to retired U.S. Army officer and New York Times best-selling military novel author Lt. Col. Ralph Peters, that’s okay, as long as we remember the men and women who have made us the land of the free and home of the brave.
(Photo credit YouTube)