As Memorial Day 2025 approaches, I find myself reflecting on what this day truly means. For me, as a veteran spouse and co-founder of a veteran-owned business, Memorial Day is far more than the unofficial start of summer or a long weekend. On this day, we pay tribute to the brave men and women who gave their lives in defense of our freedom. It is a moment of deep appreciation, remembering, and love. In this Memorial Day tribute, I want to share a personal reflection on the meaning of the day from my perspective as a military wife and business owner. It’s a story of remembrance, hope, and the enduring legacy of service that guides every part of my life.
The Meaning of Memorial Day
Memorial Day holds a sacred place in American culture – a day of remembrance and respect. Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day after the Civil War) was established to honor those who gave their lives in military service. On this day each year, across our nation, flags are placed on gravestones, wreaths are laid at memorials, and communities gather in moments of silence. The meaning of Memorial Day runs deeper than patriotic parades and ceremonies; it’s a collective pause to acknowledge the cost of the freedom we enjoy.
I often remind my children and colleagues that our barbecues, beach trips, and sales events over the three-day weekend are possible only because of the heroes we remember today. It’s a day that balances grief and gratitude. We mourn the fallen, yet we also celebrate the ideals they died defending – freedom, peace, and the American way of life. Even the simple traditions speak volumes: the American flag is flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, symbolizing a nation in mourning, then raised high for the rest of the day to signify how the living will carry on the fight for liberty in honor of those who died. In essence, Memorial Day’s meaning is about honoring sacrifice and renewing our commitment to the values for which sacrifice was made.
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes
For those of us in military families, Memorial Day is deeply personal. Each year, I find myself revisiting memories and stories of the fallen heroes who have touched our lives, and there are many. I see the faces of my husband’s comrades, my friends’ spouses, and my children’s friends’ fathers—courageous souls who never came home. I see the impact they had on those around him, and I feel the weight of their absence. On Memorial Day, we honor heroes like them, ensuring their legacy lives on in our hearts.
Every Memorial Day morning, I wake to a moment of silence to pay respects. Placing small flags in my front yard, I often feel a lump in my throat as I think these are the men and women who made it possible for us to live in peace and freedom today. When we used to live on base, every evening there was a lone bugler playing “Taps” in the distance, the mournful notes hanging in the air. When you’ve served or are family to those who have served, you know that during this evening moment, you stop, you stop whatever you’re doing to remember and honor. It pulled at my heart, yes, but also gave me a profound sense of pride. This Memorial Day, the nation has the opportunity to experience that same pull and pride: to remember, to honor, and to never take for granted the price of our freedom.
In those moments, I often find myself overcome with mixed emotions. There is sorrow for lives cut short – the empty chairs at dinner tables, the kids who grew up without a parent, the heroes who never got to enjoy the very freedom they fought to protect. But alongside the sorrow, there’s also gratitude and inspiration. Their courage inspires me to be a better person, to serve my community, and to live in a way that honors their memory. I remind myself that each fallen hero had dreams, loved ones, and plans for the future. While they can no longer pursue those dreams, we who remain have a responsibility to live fully and purposefully on their behalf.
A Veteran Spouse’s Reflection
As a military spouse, Memorial Day resonates in a unique way. I remember the many deployments and long nights of worry, not knowing if my loved one was safe overseas. I consider myself one of the lucky ones – my husband returned home after each mission. But I will never forget that not every family gets to welcome their hero back with open arms. For every joyful homecoming I’ve experienced, another military spouse received a folded flag and a heartbreaking goodbye. That stark reality is never lost on me. It’s one reason Memorial Day strikes such an emotional chord in my heart: I know how easily my reality could have been different.
Being a veteran spouse has taught me about resilience, community, and sacrifice on the home front. I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with other military wives and husbands at ceremonies; our heads bowed in shared grief and respect. We understand each other’s unspoken feelings – the relief that our own loved one is still with us, intertwined with guilt and sorrow for those who weren’t so fortunate. On Memorial Day, I think of the spouses who carry on after unimaginable loss, raising children and rebuilding lives while preserving the memory of their fallen partners. Their strength and love are incredibly inspiring. The military community is truly a family, and on this day especially, we wrap our arms around each other a little tighter.
In my reflection, I also feel a renewed sense of duty – not in uniform, but as a citizen and community member. Memorial Day reminds me that the freedom and security I enjoy were paid for in blood, sweat, and tears. It challenges me to live in a way that’s worthy of that sacrifice. As a wife, a mother, and an entrepreneur, I strive to impart this understanding to those around me. Although my eyelids have not grown, I reflect on what it was like when they were small. I talked to my children about why we observe Memorial Day, explaining it’s not “happy Memorial Day” like a celebration, but rather a solemn day to remember heroes. I encouraged them to ask questions about their dad’s service and the friends lost, because keeping those stories alive is a form of honor. In sharing these reflections, I hope to keep the true spirit of Memorial Day alive for our family and others.
Continuing the Mission in a Veteran-Owned Business
After our chapter of active military service closed, my husband and I embarked on a new mission: building our own company. We founded Birds Eye Aerial Drones in 2014, and today we run a veteran-owned drone service provider business that applies the values of our military life to the world of technology and innovation. At first glance, flying drones for commercial projects might seem worlds apart from military service. But in many ways, our drone services work is a continuation of the same ethos of service, duty, and teamwork that guided us in the Navy.
As a drone service provider, we often operate high-tech equipment and tackle complex challenges for our clients, whether it’s conducting aerial inspections for utilities, mapping infrastructure, or assisting in emergency response efforts. Behind every drone flight, there’s a mission mindset that comes straight from our military background. We plan meticulously, prioritize safety and integrity, and work as a tight-knit team, just as we did in uniform. Those habits were ingrained in us by years of service, and they’ve become the backbone of our company culture. In fact, our business’s success has been built on principles like excellence, accountability, and service-before-self – all values we learned from the armed forces.
Being a veteran-owned business also means staying connected to the veteran community. We’ve made it part of our mission to support and hire fellow veterans whenever possible. There’s a special understanding that comes from shared service – an unspoken bond. Our company has deep roots in the veteran community, and we strive to create a place of belonging for veterans transitioning to civilian careers. Whether it’s mentoring a young veteran just entering the drone services industry or partnering with veteran organizations for community projects, we see our business as another way to serve our country, just in a different uniform. In doing so, we honor the fallen by helping the living, ensuring those who returned home have opportunities to thrive. Every time we innovate with a new aerial solution or complete a project that helps a community, I like to think we’re contributing positively to the country our heroes died for. It’s our way of saying their sacrifice was not in vain, and their spirit propels us to aim higher and do better in everything we undertake.
Inspiring Future Generations and Keeping the Legacy Alive
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of Memorial Day is how it urges us to educate and inspire the next generation. Every year, as I stood with my children waiting for their father’s ship to pull into port after a very long time apart, I saw the love and respect in their eyes. These memory-making moments are incredibly meaningful. It’s how the legacy of our fallen heroes stays alive – through the stories we pass down and the values we instill in our kids. I feel a responsibility as a veteran spouse (and now as a business leader in the community) to ensure that the youth around me understand why we observe Memorial Day. It’s not just about history lessons; it’s about empathy and appreciation. I want them to grasp that the barbecue gatherings and freedom to chase their dreams did not come free – they were gifts to us from those who gave everything.
In my role at our company and in the community, I often speak to young people about both technology and service. It’s amazing to watch a teenager’s face light up at the controls of a drone, but it’s even more powerful when they connect that excitement to a bigger purpose. I share how the drone technology we use can help fight wildfires, protect our environment, or rebuild after disasters – positive missions that mirror the selflessness of military service in a small way. By linking innovation with service, I hope to show that everyone can contribute to the greater good, whether or not they wear a uniform. This, to me, is part of the living legacy of those we honor on Memorial Day: inspiring others to serve and to care deeply about their community and country.
As we mark Memorial Day 2025, my heart is heavy with remembrance but also full of hope. I see hope in the way communities come together on this day, in the way children place flowers on a soldier’s grave, and in the way total strangers say “thank you” to military families for their sacrifice. There’s a warmth and unity that emerges from shared gratitude. Memorial Day reminds us that we are all part of something bigger – a nation that remains free and full of opportunity because of the heroes who safeguarded it. It challenges us to be worthy of their sacrifice every day thereafter. For me, that means carrying the lessons of courage, sacrifice, and love into every role I play: as a wife, a mother, a friend, and a co-founder of a company driven by purpose.
In remembrance, there is resolve. Each story of a fallen hero that I carry with me fuels my determination to live honorably and to help others. Their sacrifices drive me to mentor more, to volunteer more, and to find ways through our business to give back. I truly believe that when we remember the fallen, we also remind ourselves to live with intention – to love our families fiercely, to build up our communities, and to protect the freedoms and values that define our nation.
Sharing the Remembrance
This Memorial Day, I invite you to join me in honoring the heroes who have given us so much. Take a moment to remember their stories, share their names, and reflect on what Memorial Day means to you and your loved ones. Let’s also spread the spirit of gratitude and remembrance beyond our own circles. If this reflection resonates with you, please share it on social media – not for accolades, but to inspire others to pause and appreciate the true meaning of Memorial Day 2025. Together, by sharing our stories and tributes, we can keep the memory of our fallen heroes alive and ensure their legacy continues to inspire and guide us all.
May we never forget, and may we live each day in ways that honor their sacrifice.
