Happy Three-Day Weekend!

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On May 30, 1868, American soldiers who died in our bloody Civil War that abolished slavery in our country were celebrated on a holiday called Declaration Day.

This day of tribute evolved to honor all those who have died to protect our Constitutional rights and freedoms in all wars, becoming known as Memorial Day.

In 1970, we began celebrating Memorial Day on the last Monday in May, allowing for a three-day weekend welcomed by all Americans every year at a time when weather gets close to perfect throughout our country.  Those who choose to work on this holiday usually receive overtime pay, so win-win.

At this point, perhaps most of our country no longer gives any thought at all to our fallen heroes, those intrepid soldiers who not only risked their lives and limbs but actually died in service to our great country.

Let us each take time to thank God for all those who made this ultimate sacrifice.

One of the best places to get back in touch with just how much good these soldiers have done is, somewhat surprisingly, on a river cruise or guided tour through the heart of Europe, where the emphasis on history often revisits battlefields where American soldiers died in glory defending not only our rights but the entire free world during World War II.

Surrounding villages have resurrected into beautiful, peaceful destinations for travelers, so it is far from a depressing experience.  It is exhilarating!

Perhaps more fundamentally, we all could use to be reminded of just how revolutionary those rights enshrined in our Constitution and just how unique this American experiment were at the time they were imagined.

For that, a Canada/New England cruise or guided tour can be quite enlightening and inspiring.  As with a river cruise, you will find the views gorgeous and the experience revitalizing.

New England is a wonderful place for parents to bring their school-aged children and for teachers to get back in touch with what it truly means to be an American, an alternative vision to recent guidebooks written by administrators who seem to have much different priorities than instilling patriotic values in our precious children.

No matter where you take a deep breath of freedom on this glorious day, remember we share our liberty because many brave soldiers died to defend our Constitutional rights.

God bless them all!

Wes