I was going to write a big Memorial Day post, but it didn’t pan out, so I’ll say what I have to say here.

I have served in the US Navy now for eight years. I left for boot camp the day after my high school graduation and have not had a vacation since the summer between my sophomore and junior years. I spent five years on a submarine, the USS San Juan, participated in countless missions in support of the Global War on Terrorism, including shooting 28 Tomahawk missiles into Iraq in March, 2003. I visited 13 foreign countries during three overseas deployments. I would be underway at sea for months at a time and the worst part about was the feeling of being completely cut off from the country that I was serving. Those five years were absolute hell, but also extremely rewarding. But nothing that I ever did could even come close to the sacrifices and stress that the men and women serving in war zones have to go through day in and day out.

My brother joined the Marines in 2004, knowing full well that he would eventually wind up in Iraq. He has now been deployed twice to Iraq and will be going back again soon. Thankfully he has returned safe both times, but he has yet to really open up and tell about how bad it really was over there. I do know that he has a hard time adjusting to life when he gets back to the States.

There are thousands of young men and women just like him serving all over the world today, defending the freedoms that so many of us take for granted every day. One of those freedoms is the joy we have as we cheer on our favorite sports team, whether it’s the Cowboys, the Atlanta Braves, or the Nashville Predators. Just sit and try to imagine what life would be like if sports just went away. For most of us, it is an inherent part of our lives and a lot of us would be absolutely lost without it. I allows us a chance to escape our lives for three hours every Sunday, all the while we obsess about what might happen during those three hours every other day of the week. When I was on board the San Juan I almost completely lost touch with sports. I just didn’t have the resources or time to keep up with it all. It’s tough to get Sportscenter when you’re 400 feet under water. I didn’t know that Bill Parcells was the coach of the Cowboys until July 2003. I kid you not.

So as we all gather today and tonight for barbecues, fireworks, parades or whatever it is that you do on this day, raise your glass in thanks to the men and women that aren’t able to celebrate the day that is meant for them. The ones that sitting in a dusty tent, missing the husbands or wives, sons and daughters and all the while counting down the days they can see them again. Think about all of the Cowboys fans that are in the Marines or Army, Air Force and Navy that won’t be able to enjoy the magical season that is in store in 2008. Think about them, thank them, and have a fun, safe night.

(By the way, I wrote this on my iPhone. Man that sucked.)

For your service to this great nation and for reminding us what this day is all about.

Just to say I am pulling for the kid. From the troubled family to his adopted parents to the 3.96 GPA to the insanity of that trial verdict – all for doing what most HS boys are doing (or at least trying!)... it would be great to see this kid get a break.