I think of the grandfather I never knew on Memorial Day. The only record of his life is a wedding photo, a memorial document from France, where he is buried, a citation from the United States Army, and a street sign that bears his name, placed in his hometown. He died on July 15, 1918, while fighting in WWI, fatally wounded by a high explosive shell. Joseph was 23 years old. He left behind a wife, an infant daughter that he never held, and a promising future in America that was never fulfilled.

Though I never met him, I love him and appreciate the sacrifice he made so that I could be free. He is buried in Aisne-Marne Cemetery in Belleau, France, not his native country or his adopted country, but a foreign place, a place where his decedents may never visit. But he is surrounded by others who also made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. I wonder if the people in France appreciate what he has done. I wonder if Americans appreciate him and all the men and women who served. We should never take our freedoms for granted or allow the history books to erase the sacrifices that came before us. We must never forget.

Memorial Day Tribute

A Tragic Love Story These are my grandparents, the ones I never met. They were immigrants from Poland who didn't have the chance to live out their American dream. After Joseph's death, my grandmother was always asked to participate in Memorial Day ceremonies. My mother remembered my grandmother crying at each one. She never remarried.

Memorial Day in New Jersey will be cold and raining. I think it is appropriate weather for a solemn holiday. Instead of focusing on the long weekend, I will set aside time to pray for the brave men and women who died in wars and fought for freedom and justice. I hope we all realize that this American experiment is only 250 years old, and there is no guarantee of success. Benjamin Franklin most famously said, ours is a republic "if you can keep it." We must do our best to preserve it.

God Bless America. Until next week ... Joanne.