Eugene Edw. Curtain III’s Post

Freedom isn’t free

**Honoring the Brave: A Memorial Day Reflection 🇺🇸** In the serene silence of dawn, rows upon rows of headstones tell stories of sacrifice, courage, and unwavering commitment. Today, we remember and honor the brave souls who laid down their lives for our freedom. Their legacy is etched in the heart of our nation, and their sacrifice serves as a profound reminder of the true cost of liberty. As we gather with family and friends this Memorial Day, let's take a moment to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy daily—freedoms paid for by the valor of our fallen heroes. **Here are three ways we can honor their memory:** 1. **Visit a Memorial**: Spend time at a local cemetery or war memorial. Place flowers, say a prayer, or simply reflect on their bravery. 2. **Share Their Stories**: Take a moment to read or share a story about a fallen hero. Keeping their stories alive ensures their sacrifice is never forgotten. 3. **Support Veterans**: Contribute to organizations that support veterans and their families. It's a small gesture that can make a significant impact. Wounded Warrior Project & American Valor Foundation are just two that I like and believe in supporting myself. However, there are many, do your research and find one that suits you. Let's unite in gratitude and remembrance, ensuring that the legacy of our heroes continues to inspire future generations. **P.S.** Repost this to your network ♻️ and join in honoring those who gave everything for our freedom.

🌟 Transformation Tuesday: Reflecting on Memorial Day Blessings 🌟 I hope you all had a reflective and meaningful Memorial Day yesterday. As we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, let’s take a moment to thank God for the blessings and lessons this day brings. 1. Gratitude for Freedom: On Memorial Day, we remember and appreciate the freedom we enjoy daily. It’s a reminder that our ability to pursue our entrepreneurial dreams is a gift, safeguarded by the bravery of countless heroes. 2. Honoring Sacrifice: Memorial Day is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our military personnel. Their courage and dedication inspire us to overcome our business challenges with resilience and perseverance. 3. Community and Unity: This day brings us together to honor and remember. It highlights the strength of unity and the power of coming together with a shared purpose. Just like our community here, we support and uplift each other, driven by our faith and commitment to success. As we move forward, let’s carry the spirit of Memorial Day with us—thanking God for His endless blessings, the freedom we cherish, and the community that supports us. 🙏 "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 🔔 Call to Action: Share your reflections on Memorial Day and how it inspires you in your business journey. Let’s uplift each other with stories of gratitude and transformation. Comment below! #TransformationTuesday #MemorialDayReflections #Gratitude #ChristianBusiness #ThankGod

Happy Friday Everyone!   There are numerous foundations and available resources that aim to support out active-duty, veteran, and military spouses.   In fact, there are so many resources that it can feel overwhelming and individuals don't know where to start.   The biggest question that has been heavy in my prayer life is, "How can I help make an impact on members?"   Throughout many prayers and leaning on God for guidance, this is what I've learned:   1. We can help most by educating others on resources. When one person shares a resource, another person will, and so on. I can't wait to share spotlights on the amazing resources that God has shown me. 2. When God has called you to help, don't be discouraged when all of the ways you are wanting to help have limitations. God's will won't go unaccomplished!   Perspective Change:   Help is a verb but it is also a noun   Verb: to give assistance or support to someone or to provide someone with something that is useful or necessary in achieving an end.   Noun: A source of aid, remedy, relief.   Remember that in your moments where you feel like you aren't showing action, you are still providing support.     Zechariah 4:10  

As Memorial Day unfolds, it's more than just a day off or a time for barbecues. It's a moment to pause, reflect, and honor the sacrifices made by those who have served and continue to serve in the armed forces. It's a day to acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe to those who have given their lives in defense of our freedom and way of life. Memorial Day is a time to remember not only the soldiers who have fallen, but also the families they leave behind. It's a day to recognize the immense sacrifices made by military families, who endure long separations, frequent moves, and the constant fear of the unknown. But amidst the somber reflections, there is also room for gratitude. Gratitude for the freedoms we often take for granted. Gratitude for the quality of life we enjoy, made possible by the dedication and bravery of our armed forces. And let's commit ourselves to ensuring that their sacrifices were not in vain. Let's work to build a world where freedom and justice are not just lofty ideals, but lived realities for all. Let's strive to create a future worthy of the legacy left to us by those who have gone before. This Memorial Day, let's remember, let's reflect, and let's give thanks. But let's also recommit ourselves to the values & lets ensure a brighter future for generations to come. #MemorialDay #Gratitude #RememberTheHeroes #RememberAndReflect

🌟 Honoring the Missing Man - A Symbolic Table Setting 🌟 At Emerson, we have set up a "Missing Man Table. Have you ever noticed a table set for one, distinct from the rest, at military banquets or solemn ceremonies? This is the #MissingManTable, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the brave individuals who are no longer with us, particularly prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIA). Every element on the table carries deep symbolism, emphasizing the profound respect and honor we hold for our fallen heroes. 1️⃣ The Round Table: The round table represents the everlasting concern for our missing comrades. It signifies that our love and respect for them have no end. 2️⃣ The White Tablecloth: A white tablecloth symbolizes the purity of their intentions when they answered the call to serve our country. 3️⃣ The Single Red Rose: A solitary red rose in a vase signifies the bloodshed and sacrifice of those who have given their lives for our freedom and security. 4️⃣ The Slice of Lemon: A slice of lemon on the bread plate represents the bitter fate of the missing. 5️⃣ The Salt: A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears shed by waiting families and loved ones. 6️⃣ The Inverted Glass: An inverted glass signifies the absence of the missing. 7️⃣ The Candle: A candle is lit, representing hope and the upward reach of their unconquerable spirit. 8️⃣ The Empty Chair: An empty chair signifies the missing individual's absence from our gathering. 💙 Remembering and Honoring 💙 As we encounter a Missing Man table, let's take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by our servicemen and servicewomen. It's an opportunity to express our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy today and the dedication of those who have gone missing while defending them. #Emerson #ERG #Culture #Military #RememberingHeroes #HonorAndRespect #MilitaryTraditions

MEMORIALS AND MOMENTS A single instance, can last a lifetime. That's what a day like Memorial Day means. Those moments where lives were forever changed, that can't be unchanged. Where lifetimes are cut to their shortest thread. Memorials are personal monuments -- individual reminders of the last and full measure taken. Often, those moments are chosen. The last breath held, before taking the last jump into the fray. Humanity is built and measured on that pause, that space, before everything is taken away. Before the times turn black. But there are also stories of those moments not chosen. Where there was no room for choice -- because the enemy had made the choice themselves. The enemy gets a vote -- & their vote, carries the ultimate & terrible cost. Memorial Day is the moment to remember those who were on the end of both of those timelines. We all hope to measure life in long days and long decades. To look back on our own works & marvel at what we accomplished. But days like these, are where those who can't marvel at their achievements -- must be seen through the eyes of the survivors. It is through these eyes -- upon this horizon -- where we can remember. Where we hope to never forget. Memorial Day is the stark, public reminder to remember what shouldn't be forgotten. While we build upon that past and stand among those souls -- it's a moment to remember, appreciate, and return to what that sacrifice meant. To celebrate today, in a single instance, is to remember the lifetimes lost in singular instances. #memorialday #military #coastguard #veteran

🇺🇸 Honoring Our Heroes on Memorial Day 🇺🇸 "Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices." – Harry S. Truman Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courage, dedication, and selflessness have secured the freedoms we cherish every day. As we reflect on the significance of this day, let's also recognize the families who have lost loved ones. Their strength and resilience are a testament to the profound impact of these heroes. Ways to Honor and Remember: Participate in Memorial Day Events: Attend ceremonies and parades to show your support. Visit Memorials and Cemeteries: Pay your respects at local memorials and veterans' gravesites. Support Veterans: Donate to organizations that assist veterans and their families. Share Stories: If you have a story of a loved one who served, share it to keep their memory alive. Let’s commit to remembering their sacrifices, not just today, but every day. Their legacy is our enduring duty. How are you honoring Memorial Day? Share your thoughts and stories below. #MemorialDay #HonorOurHeroes #RememberAndRespect #ServiceAndSacrifice #Veterans #Honor #Service

For many Americans, Memorial Day is more than just a long weekend and the unofficial start of summer. The holiday's true purpose is to honor U.S. soldiers who have died in service to their country. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, with its origins dating back to the Civil War. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, Congress declared it a national holiday in 1971. The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, was the deadliest conflict in U.S. history and led to the creation of the nation’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s, Americans across the country began holding springtime ceremonies to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and saying prayers. The exact origins of these traditions are unclear, as many communities may have independently started their own memorial gatherings. Some records indicate that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina, less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865. However, in 1966, the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. While Veterans Day in November honors all who have served in the military, Memorial Day specifically honors those who have died while serving in U.S. forces in any war, past or present. An important aspect of Memorial Day is the “National Moment of Remembrance,” a resolution passed in December 2000. It asks all Americans to observe a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time, pausing from whatever they are doing to reflect and show respect for the fallen. Ultimately, Memorial Day is a day for Americans to reflect on and honor the sacrifices of those who have given their lives in military service. #MemorialDay2024, #NationalMomentofRemembrance,