05/25/2026
Memorial Day looks different depending on where you're standing.
For some, it's a cookout and a day off. For others, it's one of the hardest days of the year.
If you've lost someone who served — or if you've lost anyone and today just brings it all rushing back — I want you to know that your grief doesn't need to be explained or justified today.
Grief doesn't follow a calendar. It doesn't care that the rest of the world is celebrating. It just shows up, sometimes louder than ever, on the days that are supposed to feel meaningful.
So here's what I want to say to you:
You are allowed to grieve today. You are allowed to skip the party. You are allowed to cry in the car before you walk into the backyard. You are allowed to say their name out loud — even if it makes others uncomfortable.
Today, my husband and I honor those who didn't make it home from our Iraq deployment: Spc. Philip D. Brown, Spc. James J. Holmes, Staff Sgt. Lance J. Koenig, and Spc. Cody L. Wentz. ❤️🤍💙
💬 Drop a 💛 if you needed this today, or share this with someone who does.