Teaching Children About Sacrifice

By Shannon Sprague

With Memorial Day in our rear view mirrors, I ask what that day means for you. It’s to kick-off the unofficial start of summer, right? Time to enjoy the nice weather, boating, BBQ’s, fun with family and friends, and getting some much needed rest and relaxation. All sounds quite lovely, doesn’t it? What many forget or choose not to acknowledge is that Memorial Day recognizes and honors men and women who have given their lives for our country.

My family and I attended a Memorial Day celebration, where the middle school band played and bagpipes enthralled us with somber music while local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts read names of deceased Veterans. The graves of each veteran were adorned with American flags that blew in the wind with a sense of purpose and remembrance. An Army soldier recounted his experience in Afghanistan. He wanted us to know that soldiers "go there and fight in the name of love." In fact, this sacrifice is born entirely out of love for their loved ones here at home.

All of this brought the idea of sacrifice to my forethought, reminding me of the long lineage of veterans in my family. My father served two tours of duty in Vietnam, my grandfathers both served in World War II, and one also served in the Korean War. They came home changed men.

It is important to teach our children about the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform make each day for our freedom. I thought it very fitting to share the experience my husband and I had last year with my then 4-year-old daughter Grace when teaching her and her sister the meaning of Memorial Day.

As my husband was explaining to Grace what the day meant, we happened to be in the vicinity of a Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery and decided to take a drive in. What a great opportunity for some experiential and visual learning. Each marker was adorned with its own American flag and flew proudly in the soft breezes. There was music from a nearby chapel, chiming traditional military songs such as Amazing Grace. This was the backdrop, as we stood there reflecting and explaining to our daughters what it all meant.

Grace and her then 2-year-old sister Gwyneth started to pick the little wildflowers that were growing in the grass. They began laying them gently on individual graves, bending at the waist and saying, “Thank you soldiers.” They then looked up at us and said “Mommy and Daddy, we are thanking the soldiers for protecting us.” Although they did not fully understand the greatness of it all, the expression of gratitude was precious. As we drove out of the cemetery, Gwyneth said, “Thank you soldiers” and Grace said, in her very matter-of-fact way, “They can’t hear you Gwynie. They are underground, but if you listen very closely, you may hear a soft goodbye.”

There truly are so many levels of sacrifice, aren’t there? What does sacrifice mean to you? Missing out on a show that you really wanted to see? Not buying the shoes you want this week and having to wait until next your paycheck. Or is it something much bigger? This breeds lots of opportunity for reflection. As I sit here, with my computer plugged into electricity, warm in my home with clean water, clean clothes and a private bathroom just down the hall, I can’t help but think of those men and women who are sleeping in the dirt, don’t get to take showers, eat less-than-favorite foods, don’t get to see their families, and don’t get to kiss their kids goodnight or read them stories.

As we reflect on the many sacrifices that our service men and women make each day, each second, I ask you, please just pause for a moment out of your busy day, and acknowledge what they are putting on the line each time they step up to protect EVERYTHING that is so precious to us. Talk to your children about what it all means. You may be surprised that they are not too young to understand and truly how much they can take in.

About the author: Shannon Sprague is a licensed, certified wellness coach and founder of Valley View Wellness Coaching, LLC. She has a background in physical therapy personal training, nutrition consultation, and is a licensed facilitator for Am I Hungry?® weight loss/management workshops. She takes a holistic approach to wellness, focusing on all aspects of an individual’s needs, goals, and desires to reach their ultimate level of well being. You can learn more about Shannon’s services and current workshop offerings at www.valleyviewcoaching.com or at (603) 845-3625.