Memorial Day Weekend: It's Personal This Year

This Memorial Day weekend is going to be slightly different than most of mine have been in the past. Yeah, I'm going somewhere I don't normally go. Yeah, I'll also be with a bigger group of friends than I normally am on Memorial Day. But this time, it's more personal. As I'm finalizing these plans for Memorial Day weekend festivities, it really became clear that I was beginning to get caught up in the excitement of a three-day weekend and a four-day week following it (and the anticipation of binge drinking on a party barge all weekend with your best friends). And that, by no means, is what this holiday is about.

This weekend we celebrate the lives of those who died while fighting for our freedom. Thinking deeply, it really is crazy to try and wrap your mind around the fact that hundreds of thousands of men (and now women) have made the personal decision to put their lives on the line to make sure that the stars and bars wave never cease to wave proudly above our nation. Two of those individuals being my best friends. As I write this, Chandler, a best friend of mine is awaiting his deployment to San Diego, CA to begin his B.U.D.S training to become a Navy Seal. Meanwhile, another best friend and brother, Ethan, is living out his remaining months here in Arkansas before he heads into the Army towards the end of the summer. These guys don't have to do this. They weren't forced into the service and they both definitely had a number of options available other than the military. These guys made the personal decision to defend their country, much like the hundreds of thousands of men and women I mentioned earlier. Because of this, there are very few people whom I respect more than these men.

So go out and celebrate this weekend. Celebrate freedom. Celebrate liberty and justice for all. Drink loads of beer out of Budweiser's new 'America' bottles and do that belly flop off the top of the pontoon. But don't forget what this day is about, and make sure you stop and say "Thank You," to those men and women (and their families) who are serving the U.S of A today.

But most importantly, blare this song all weekend long:

After all, we are the Back 2 Back World War Champs! #Merica