As we enter the final week of school, I encourage everyone to pause and reflect today in honor of Memorial Day.  Today, we celebrate, remember, and honor the servicemen and servicewomen who gave their lives for our country. We must never forget them, and our gratitude knows no boundaries. 

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, came about as women decorated the graves of soldiers killed during the Civil War. In May of 1868, General John Logan officially proclaimed Memorial Day, and New York was the first state to recognize the day formally in 1873. The actual “Moment of Remembrance” is at 3 p.m.

In my first few years of teaching, I had the privilege of teaching Michael in my Algebra I class.  Michael was quiet, respectful, and diligent in his studies.  He was hard-working, smart, and had a great sense of humor.  I got the chance to see a different side of him when I coached him in tennis on the high school team.  Michael was athletic and a leader on the team among his peers.  I also found him polite and a huge help when my son visited the courts.  

After graduation, Michael attended college and graduated with a degree and the status of ROTC Cadet.  In 2010, Michael was deployed to Iraq for his first deployment. He was serving as a platoon leader with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division when he was killed.  

Memorial Day has taken on a new meaning for me after Michael's passing and hearing other stories of brave soldiers who lost their lives protecting our freedom and standing for what's right. I am grateful to be in a school district that has a Purple Star designation at all of our schools to support and raise awareness of our military families. Today, I hope you will take the time to pause and remember.