Happy Memorial Day! We have so much to be thankful and remember on this day. Our freedom to worship, speak our mind, and have choice in what path we pursue before us—the life we have been born into—is not here without a cost. Today we remember and honor the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have paid the ultimate price to protect our nation, preserving freedom and liberty such that we live and walk today. May we never forget their sacrifice.
‘Old Glory’ is proudly flown year-round at OWC. Our flag was lowered to half-mast at sunrise today and then returned to full-mast at noon in memory of those fallen and with respect to Memorial Day decorum. We take a moment of silence, remembering our fallen. I pray that, independent of our differences, we stay united in the good of our founders’ intent.
Every year on this day, it is tradition here at OWC that we pause for a moment of silence and listen to the playing of Taps. Wherever you may be, at 3PM (your local time), I hope you will join us in honoring our fallen servicemen and women during this National Moment of Remembrance.
Memorial Day has been celebrated since May 1868 when General John Logan proclaimed May 30 as Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day). On that first Memorial Day, flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
The website USMemorialDay.org is a great source of information on this important day and its history. The site tells us that in 1971, Congress passed legislation that changed this day of recognition to instead fall on the last Monday of May. It was effectively made part of a three-day weekend as opposed to a solitary day of remembrance.
Memorial Day weekend is not just another three-day weekend or an opportunity to shop a great sale. I believe it is important that we are vigilant in acknowledging the sacrifices that brought us here and reflective on what we need to do to continue honoring those that fought for our freedom indiscriminately with hope for an ever better future.
It is the least we can do to give remembrance of those fallen, recognizing the great sacrifice they have made for us.
While Memorial Day is mainly intended to pay tribute to the U.S. men and women who died during military service, Veterans Day, on November 11, is intended to thank living veterans for their service.
Supporting veterans and active-duty personnel has been something OWC has become increasingly involved in since Desert Storm in the early ‘90s. It is also our great privilege, and OWC is proud to welcome our vets to employment at OWC and glad to facilitate any transition needed in doing so.
In good faith they have served our country and have great drive to continue to serve as they bring their unique skills, loyalty, and maturity into civilian roles. We are extremely fortunate to have these individuals on our team and in our local communities.
In God we trust and I am grateful for the great opportunities in this nation with freedom, liberty, and acceptance of all people. Freedom allows us imagination. We have the liberty to act. The freedom to worship without persecution. We enjoy great diversity enabling new ideas without limit. This is precious, unique, and core in principle—reaching beyond national borders, flags, or politics.
This is OWC’s 37th year and the 17th year of Memorial Day remembrance at our current Woodstock, IL HQ. Mirjana Madzarac, an immigrant, OWC Team member for over 20 years, and our Director of Warehouse Operations, has again honored this day with the lowering of the flag this morning. She and her family, of Serbia and Croatia, were refugees of war when they came to the land of opportunity. Twenty-two years ago, we shared and celebrated her becoming a U.S. Citizen. Like our great country, OWC is proud to be a melting pot built on hard work and sacrifice. Mirjana is an amazing team member and part of a diversity core to OWC. I am thankful for what has made it possible for her, and others like her, to be with us as we are all the better for it this day.
Jennifer Soule, a multi-decade trusted OWC leader, dutifully hoisted our flag back up to full mast―sharply at noon today. As we honor our fallen, we stand tall with respect and appreciation. I thank Jennifer for the time she has gladly given today in recognition too of the service given and that we can give. She brings good heart to everything she does and I am grateful for her contribution.
OWC has been graced with an amazing team and customers who drive our promises that cannot be broken. There is a reason we are here. This team and I are grateful for the opportunity we are provided: the inspiration to create and serve you who are the purpose for our doing. We recognize the responsibility demanded and are committed to the trust with which is given. This trust is something we greatly respect and we continuously work to ensure that it is earned.
Most control is an illusion and all of us are graced with different gifts to share in this world. It is through challenges that we grow, opportunities that we strive, and in all of this I pray for the recognition that all is God-given. I believe that being in service to each other and, with that freedom, to find and bring out the best in all is one way to honor the men and women who have given their lives. It is our responsibility among the living to act and ensure their sacrifice is never wasted.
Whatever efforts we undertake to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to those men and women serving in our Armed Forces today—and those who have served in the past—we can never do enough. It all pales in comparison to what they and their families have sacrificed for all of us. Giving back is the least we can do, and we do so openly, honestly, and with the utmost respect for their service.
On this Memorial Day, and every day, I thank you for taking a moment to offer a gesture of thanks to our men and women serving our nation. There is no gesture too small; something as simple as walking over to a member of our Armed Forces and saying thank you can mean the world. Thank you.
