Memorial Day tribute through food and service
Memorial day is held each year on the last Monday of the month of May. This day of remembrance often kicks off the unofficial start of summer — punctuated by family barbeques, an extended weekend, and vacation traffic. The holiday’s true purpose is often lost in the commercialization of the event, with consumers deluged with deals on “essential” items to make their recreational activities more enjoyable. We hope our viewers will not forget the true nature of Memorial Day: To acknowledge those that have made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country. All of the men and women who have taken the oath of enlistment certainly deserve a great deal of recognition considering the sacrifices that they have made and continue to make in the ongoing war on terror.
The oath of enlistment for our nation’s military:
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; AND THAT I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICERS APPOINTED OVER ME, ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. SO HELP ME GOD.
As HFDST is composed of public safety members, some of which are former military members, this week’s posts will reflect our appreciation for those in service. Recently, there has been much consternation regarding the “militarization” of public safety, but the influence is not as nascent as many would think. It is widely known that the public safety community has adopted many of the military’s principals and standards. Many of our formal events (funerals, promotions,etc.) rank structures, and uniforms are based off of the United States Military’s standards and procedures. These organizational models and principals have proven very effective and have stood the test of time. Perhaps this is attributable to a shared objective of defending the Constitution of the United States. (The oath of office for most public safety entities bears a close resemblance to the enlistment oath for the military.) Defending our country against all threats foreign and domestic is visceral to all U.S. citizens through the attacks faced on September 11, 2001 and more recently, San Bernardino, CA. In responding to such threats public safety often relies on the U.S. military to aid our policy development and equipment procurement due to their training and experience on such matters. These contributions have likely saved countless lives and prevented numerous attacks from taking place.
This Memorial Day it is HFDST hope that our viewers take a minute to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day. We hope that you will pay special tribute to the members of the military that have fallen in defense of this great country. For those in Homeland Security, one of the best way’s we can pay tribute to those that have lost their lives in military service is to keep the home of their loved ones safe and secure. These survivors of tragedy are certainly entitled to the peace and comfort that their loved ones have fought so valiantly abroad to preserve. As a means for all of our citizens to assist int that goal, HFDST has provided a Public Service Message on, “see something, say something” in this weeks video.
In addition to these important public service message, we have included a public service desert. Our Memorial Day recipe reflects the pride our country has in its Flag and those that preserve its purpose; as a symbol of freedom and prosperity. This delicious desert dip will surely be the centerpiece at any event this holiday and is a tribute to the brave men and women of our armed services. Please click on our link to get this great recipe and public service announcement.
We hope that everyone enjoys a safe, healthy holiday and takes a few minutes to express their appreciation for those that are not here to enjoy the day.
