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Flag holders continue to disappear from veterans’ graves in Luzerne County

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Lottery numbers for Sunday, May 28, 2017.

<p>The pool filter is running. The lawn furniture is out. The logs are on the fire pit. The grill is ready to go. The grass has been cut. And the American flag is flying proudly from your front porch.</p><p>You&#8217;re all ready for Memorial Day.</p><p>Or, are you?</p><p>You think swimming, roasting marshmallows and grilling hot dogs makes a Memorial Day?</p><p>Think again!</p><p>What &#8211; or who &#8211; do you think made all that possible for you? The pool boy? The lawn guy?</p><p>Not even close.</p><p>It was people like Matt DePrimo who gave his life for your freedom. It was people like Michael Cleary who never made it home from war. It was even people like young Shannon Purcell, who was out to conquer the world with the Air Force she loved so dearly, but whose life was cut short during a tragic accident in Japan.</p><p>The sacrifices of those people are what really make Memorial Day.</p><p>Memorial Day is just that &#8211; a day to remember those who have died while serving our country &#8211; and is not to be confused with Veterans Day, a day to salute all military veterans.</p><p>Memorial Day may be considered the official start of summer where pools, manicured lawns, fire pits and grills are signs of the times. But we need to remember what Memorial Day is really about.</p><p>It is about remembering the people who have gone before us. The people brave enough to put their life on the line in defense of our freedom. The people who gave everything they had so that we may live in a free society.</p><p>In other words, Memorial Day is a day for those who no longer walk among us. We cannot thank them personally for their service.</p><p>We can, however, take some time today to stop whatever we&#8217;re doing and quietly reflect on what our lives would be like had it not been for these brave men and women. Men and women who valued their freedom enough to fight for its continuation. Men and women whose lives may have been lost but should never be forgotten.</p><p style="text-align: right;"><em> &#8212; Times Leader</em></p><style>
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Our view: Remember those that have made today possible