May 26th, 2008
VFW honors men and women currently serving.

Memorial Day is a perfect time to remember the men and women who have served our country. The day is not all about hot dogs and bar-b-que, though, especially during a time of war.

“Memorial day is a special day to give thanks to all our troops and to remember the great country that we live in.” San Marcos Resident Joe Espinoza said “I feel for all the troops and their families. God bless America.”

Mike Mercado, whose son is currently serving in the Marines, appreciates the holiday more now than ever. “Prior to the day my son joined the military Memorial Day was just another day off to relax, now I have a whole new perspective. I think that the public as a whole should do as much as possible to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Gary Stone has many relatives who are veterans of World War 2 and Vietnam. His appreciation for the day is shaped around the respect that he has for his relatives’ fallen friends. “Memorial Day is not for those who came back, it is for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The holiday is looked at much differently by my uncles because they lost friends. All I can do is try to honor the sacrifice they made.”

If you are looking for a way to support the troops, care package organizations such as www.uso.org allow you to donate money or volunteer your time to give the men and women serving over seas care packages. “I’ve helped my friends in the service by sending them calling cards” Stone said “If you know someone in the military just ask what they need, they are always willing to tell you.”

If you would like to honor those in the military this Memorial Day, the San Marcos VFW is hosting a service on Monday May 26 to honor those in military service. The service will begin at 11:00a.m. and last for about an hour. There will be a guest speaker from Texas State University. Food and drinks will be provided following the program, the event is open to the public.

There is also a service being held at the San Marcos Veteran’s Memorial at 9:30 a.m. Monday morning.

By CHRIS COPPLE
Correspondent
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Photo by Alysha Hernandez