Dear Editor:
Nature's buds and blooms remind me that May is a month of new beginnings. Where yards were barren, suddenly colorful and cheery flowers dot the landscape, brightening the yard and my spirits. It seems like magic. It's as if the gardens spring up by themselves. But it is not that simple. I am seeing the results of someone's hard work. While I drink in the beauty of the blossoms, someone is cleaning the dirt from under their fingernails.
In much the same way, I rest peacefully at night and wake with hope in a new day because, while I was sleeping, someone has protected my freedom. I have the luxury of admiring landscaping because I do not live in fear.
May opens with promise and closes in remembrance. Memorial Day is more than a three-day weekend. We can anticipate the newness of a May day because men and women have served and are serving in our armed forces. Just like the flowers do not appear magically, our freedom is not free. Dedicated servicemen and women are safeguarding our way of life.
