Memorial Day salute
More than summer road trips and barbecues, Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey — and a former soldier with 30 years of...
Memorial Day is definitely not one of those carefree “fun” holidays. For good reason. It’s a designated time-out when we can remember those who served, and died, for their country.
Despite its somber nature, many people, like me, have some happy memories of Memorial Days past.
Many years ago I served — on Memorial Day — as part of a massive Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard honor guard at Arlington National Cemetery. This year, just as they did then, members of the Army’s Third Infantry (the Old Guard and the real Honor Guard) and volunteers will place just over 220,000 flags at individual grave sites at the cemetery. Maybe you know some people who are buried there. I do.
Typically our Memorial Day column is, as it should be, a somber thank you to people who serve, in or out of uniform, and especially to people working today. Last year we heard from a long-time and now retired fed. We thought his comments are worth repeating because they reflect, probably, what so many of you think, have done or are doing.
So, without further comment, here they are, from Marc Harris, president, NARFE Florida Chapter 2364:
Memorial Day is about more than summer road trips and barbecues.
For 30 years, I served our country, especially those least fortunate in our society, alongside my fellow federal workers.
In addition to serving every American, one of the federal workforce’s greatest responsibilities is to support and equip our nation’s men and women in uniform. My civil servant colleagues and I felt a great responsibility to provide for our troops, and we mourned each time we learned of a fallen soldier.
So to me, Memorial Day is sacred. On behalf of America’s federal workers — half of whom work directly with our nation’s military — we salute our fallen heroes and thank the men and women who are currently serving around the world to defend the United States.
NEARLY USELESS FACTOID
By Dena Levitz
Mississippi and Alabama were the last two states remaining with laws against homebrewing. Both passed legislation to permit beer brewing at home in 2013. Homebrewing was federally legalized in 1978 for the first time since Prohibition made it illegal in 1919. However, regulation of alcohol is mostly left to the states.
Source: Brewers Association
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Mike Causey
Mike Causey is senior correspondent for Federal News Network and writes his daily Federal Report column on federal employees’ pay, benefits and retirement.
Follow @mcauseyWFED
