Military Working Dog National Monument, Lackland AFB, TX.

💖  Honoring our Military Service Personnel

Memorial Day is generally thought of as the un-official start of summer!  When I was a kid it meant the start of grilling season and opening of the local swimming pools.  And, as I grew older it became symbolic for being a Federal Holiday and having a day off work, barbecues and spending time with family and friends.

But, it also represents a much larger meaning for me.  I grew up in the suburbs of Northern Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C.  A unique environment where your local,  national and international news become blended and often are one in the same.  I was raised with a strong sense of serving my community and my country.  My family members have served in the navy, army and national guard. And as you know from my blog, I served as a Special Agent with the FBI.  And my dog, Giggles, served at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Let's celebrate our freedom with family, friends and neighbors.  Enjoy the parks, beaches, city and the mountains; but, let's also remember how our freedom was acquired and the human toll it took and continues to take for that freedom.

Ways to Honor Our Fallen Veterans

No matter where you are today, please take a moment to pause and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

There are many ways to honor our fallen Veterans:  visit a local veterans memorial or cemetary, participate in laying flags for our veterans, make a donation to a veterans foundation, attend a memorial day concert, spend time with a family member or friend who lost someone, etc.

Here are just a few:  www.blogs.va.gov (the Official Blog of the U.S. Dept of Veteran Affairs)
                                 www.k9sforwarriors.org
                                 www.uswardogs.org
                                 www.tourofhonor.com

And don't forget to honor our 4 legged warriors as well!!

🐾   Please visit my FaceBook page for "Giggles the Malinois" where my pup, a retired MWD (Military Working Dog) salutes America's Military Personnel (4 legged and 2 legged).

Giggles found this flag buried in the sand, post-Hurricane Michael.