Photo: Prince Organization CEO Sunil ” Sunny” with Krish and Aryan TOLANI Solemn Remembrance. Fort Rosecrans national cemetery, SAN DIEGO, Calif Blue Star Memorial
“America is too great for small things.” -Ronald Reagan
Honor, reverence, and remembrance—those are the true purposes of Memorial Day. Every year, on the last Monday in May, we celebrate the courageous men and women who gave their lives while serving our country as members of the United States armed forces. As immigrants, Memorial Day has a special meaning to us, as we know it does for other vets and the families of fallen warriors. Memorial Day is a time for reflection. Seeing the American spirit in full gear, red, white, and blue is thrilling. America’s inclusiveness is vital.
This is a country that does not ask about your origins but concerns itself with your destiny. As you enjoy the long weekend and gather with family and friends, please take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices, both large and small, that all our armed service members make on our behalf. Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day IN 1868, for the flowers that would be put on graves of soldiers who died at war, was created as a concrete attempt to bury the bitterly deep wounds that divided our great nation in the years after the Civil War. It is a wonderful opportunity to show gratitude to the great men and women who serve our Country. Words cannot express their devotion, courage, and love.
“It may last only 24 hours on Monday, or a three-day weekend, but our remembrance and respect should last a lifetime. Those who are gone make me think of those who are here—our dedicated federal, state, and local public servants. Our first responders, the countless brave men, and women whose jobs—military, law, fire rescue—dictate that they run into danger rather than run away from it. These are the fearless individuals who put their lives on the line to save and serve you and me. They are a rare breed, who made good on their pledge,” said Mrs. Neelam Tolani.
Please pause and thank the real heroes of the day for serving selflessly. The ones who paid the highest price while serving America the great, the land of the free and the brave.
Our business is selling a good night’s sleep, clean rooms, great breakfasts, but the true peace of mind comes with them. Our life’s aim must be to spend and be spent for the good of mankind. We take Krish and Aryan to pay our respects to the young men and women who stepped up when they heard the call to serve, where we met their families—gold-star families—extraordinary people for whom it is a Memorial Day every day, and their search for peace may be never-ending as their sacrifices are no less. Parents who try hard not to give up living but choose to celebrate their own fallen hero’s legacies and continue to honor their life and sacrifice. Their legacy will endure forever.
Neelam took Krish (13) and Aryan(12) to a two-day Boy Scout camp where they learned flag etiquette and cemetery etiquette. They took the frayed flags and gave a proper retirement ceremony and then burned them.
Aryan said “Mom, I feel proud and sad. I’m happy you brought us here to honor heroes and I’m sad they had to sacrifice their lives for us.”
Krish said, “Mom, they were angels sent by God and they went back to God.”
Neelam replied, “This is a debt of gratitude, which nobody can ever repay. It’s a debt we cannot even comprehend.” They both had a chance to talk to a few veterans to get their perspectives on one of the biggest things they have done in their lives. Meeting them, they saw the pain of their memories. The vets thanked them for listening to tell their side of the story and took a picture, a portrait of courage.
On this Memorial Day, I think how pleased the fallen comrades would be to see their country still safe, free, and strong. “America first” of blessings, as without the grandest sacrifice, we would not be the nation we are today. And may God give us the strength to be patriotic Americans so we may be the current stewards of American freedom. We are not here to enjoy the gift of freedom but to safeguard it for future generations. If not you, then who? If not now, then when?
Wishing you all a safe and happy Memorial Day, our fiftieth since it was designated a federal holiday under President Richard Nixon in 1971.
Let us savor our summertime and commemorate our fallen US military this Memorial Day and write to the senators and congressmen to consider the policies driving current and past wars. The roster of wars launched to solve problems have in fact caused new problems rather than solving them.
We personally expect a significant rebound in the number of Americans planning to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend. More than 40 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home. We urge those who choose to travel this year to exercise caution and take measures to protect themselves and others as the pandemic continues, as more people get the COVID-19 vaccine and consumer confidence grows with pent-up demand.
Another factor contributing to the expected increase in travel this holiday is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recently updated guidance that fully vaccinated people can travel domestically at low risk to themselves while taking proper precautions. It’s important to keep in mind that some local and state travel restrictions may still remain in place. For travelers who are not vaccinated but choose to travel, CDC recommends that you practice social distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands, and get tested before and after travel. Whether you are vaccinated or not, remember masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in US transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
