Today is Monday, May 30, 2022. It’s Memorial Day 2022 and what better way to bring home the meaning of this solemn holiday for Americans today is an article in npr written by Dustin Jones entitled ‘My heart is in Arlington’: What Memorial Day means to one Gold Star family.”

The article presents the story of parents Vikki and Mark Pier, who lost their son, Marine Lance Cpl. Noah Miles Pier, on February 16, 2010, while fighting in Afghanistan. For many years, the Piers would visit their son at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia during the Memorial Day weekend.

When they first received word of their son’s death, they had no words to describe how they felt when they found out Noah was killed. But when Marine Corps officials asked where they would like to bury their son, they knew exactly where: Arlington.

Noah’s parents chose Arlington without hesitation because their son was from there, as he spent the first 11 years of his life in Fairfax, Virginia, just 18 miles from the cemetery, before the family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. Mark and Vikki report that Noah was fascinated with American history as a child and also had an “unquenchable thirst for adventure and love for the outdoors.” Those attributes, combined with a long history of military service in the family, compelled Noah to join the Marine Corps.

When they were able to, the Piers made the six-hour drive from Charlotte to Arlington to set up chairs at his grave and just sit there for hours, remembering and reflecting on their son’s young life.

Less than a year after Noah’s death, the Piers decided to move to a small town about an hour west of Charlotte with their four youngest children. But they kept up with regular trips to Arlington for several years.

Recently, the Piers became plagued by a series of health issues that made traveling to Noah’s grave site more difficult. “Knowing that they couldn’t see Noah’s grave as often as they wished, they erected a memorial on their property.” In recent years, the Piers family – all nine children and 12 grandchildren – have gathered at Mark and Vikki’s on Memorial Day.

This family forever shattered by war do not see Memorial Day as a holiday or an event to be celebrated at shopping malls or in holiday sales, but view it as more of a day of reflection. “They hang the American flag high and write letters to Noah on red balloons.” They play games with the kids and cook some of Noah’s favorite foods and share stories.

Because of their health conditions, the Piers have not visited Noah’s grave in four years. It does pain them to be away from the cemetery for so long. But they know they will go back as soon as possible, in that they hope to be able to make that journey for Noah’s birthday on July 28 (which, coincidentally, is my son’s birthday; how weird is this?), where he would have turned 38 this year.

Vikki heartbreakingly reports not being able to visit her fallen son: “My heart is in Arlington. It is. I’m not physically there, but I do wish I could go and just touch the ground and sit with him.”

There you have the true meaning of this remembrance. It’s not found in the vast number of barbecues or romps at the beach or in the number of brunches or dinners out, but in the hole left by the death of a North Carolina’s couple’s son in Afghanistan 12 years ago at the age of 26. Let us remember then the sacrifice of all our fallen soldiers throughout the countless wars this country has been involved in throughout history. Let us cherish their memory and commit ourselves to maintaining a lasting peace over war in the years to come.

Have a good week.

Stay safe and be well.