We have come to the last Monday in May, Memorial Day.  While we are enjoying an extra day off, many of us in the community take a few moments to honor the men and women for whom the day is dedicated.  It may be flying the Stars and Stripes, attending the Arbutus flagpole ceremony that the American Legion holds every year or something much more personal. We all seem to have a way to show our respect for the service members that never made it home.

Be it draftee or volunteer, millions of Americans have served our country with pride during times of war and peace.  Of those millions of service members, many have lost their lives in service to our country.  For them, we celebrate our country, our freedom, but most of all, we honor their selfless service and dedication.

We honor:

Army Sgt. Barun Rai August 3, 2011
24, of Silver Spring, Md.; assigned to 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany

Army Sgt. Jameel T. Freeman August 11, 2011
26, of Baltimore; assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y

Air Force Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler  January 5, 2012
24, of Westminster, Md.; assigned to 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Marine Cpl. Jesse W. Stites January 19, 2012
23, of North Beach, Md.; assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Air Force Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten February 18, 2012
26, of Upper Marlboro, Md.; assigned to 25th Intelligence Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla

Army Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II  February 25, 2012
48, of Baltimore, Md., assigned to 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Division Security Partnering Team, Maryland Army National Guard, Baltimore, Md.
(credit Military Times)

These men are Maryland's sons who gave their lives in service since last Memorial Day. We honor not only these men, but also their families and friends who have felt the loss of their sacrifice the most.  Memories of these sons, fathers, brothers and friends will never fade so long as we continue to observe Memorial Day, and continue our own traditions of honoring our country's heroes.

A Memorial Day observance; hosted by American Legion Dewey Lowman Post 109, will be held Monday at the Arbutus flagpole at the intersection of Sulphur Spring Rd. and East Dr. at 10:30am.