By Tara Bazilian-Chang, Community Manager of Raising Boys World
Watching our town's Memorial Day Parade with my husband, my son & my mom
I had a memorable Memorial Day weekend with my son. It was very emotional for me because this year, at age 7, my son asked a lot of questions about the meaning behind Memorial Day.
Like many people, I have family members who have served in the military and fought in wars. Luckily, none of them lost their lives; but some were injured and probably all were emotionally scarred from witnessing violent deaths during battles and from the loss of their friends and comrades.
We went to our town parade and waved our flags and clapped as the parade went by. My son asked why there is a parade on Memorial Day. I told him it is a way for everyone to celebrate and honor those who served in the military and those who lost their lives. As the military personnel marched by in groups (soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen…) my son asked why they wore different uniforms and what those uniforms meant. He asked why some of the people were so old. He asked what the black flag with the letters POW MIA meant. He asked why people had to fight and die in wars.
I cried the entire time. I’m crying now writing this.
How do you explain to a 7 year old that freedom is not free. How do you explain that many countries don’t enjoy the liberties that The United States of America does, that some people can’t say what they think or practice their religious beliefs in peace. I kept thinking about all the wars that are going on around the world right now that we, as Americans, can completely ignore just by turning off the news. I kept thinking about all the children that are abducted and forced to be soldiers in eastern Congo, Africa.
My son kept asking me why I was crying. I told him that I’m sad for all the parents that lost their children who fought in wars to protect and uphold our freedom and our liberties.
What did you tell your sons?
Tara Bazilian-Chang is the Community Manager of Raising Boys World. She is a wife, and the mother of 2 (a daughter and a son). Tara also has her own photography business, TBC Photo, specializing in portrait photography. You can see her website here: www.tbcphoto.com.
