Today, we pause to remember those who sacrificed their very selves in the service of our nation. We honor those who served in the U.S. military forces and who gave their lives in that service. We should reflect on the hardships they endured, not just the fear and hardships on the battlefield but the separation from their families, the interruption of their life plans that they endured. We know they did it for a cause greater than themselves. We know they did it for us, for all of us, so that we could live lives with freedom.

These days we are living in a time when we are called to sacrifice. We know the sacrifices many are making are hard — the loss of jobs and income, of contact with family and friends, especially with elderly family members who are sequestered in long-term care facilities.

Before we complain about those sacrifices, let’s think about those we honor today. What are our sacrifices compared to those they made in our service? Let us hope we can shoulder our responsibilities with half the courage that they did.