Remember, Memorial Day Looks Different for Everyone
Monday, May 25th marks Memorial Day in the US.
I ask that you remember to pause for a moment and acknowledge that Memorial Day can look very different depending on who you are and what you carry with you.
For some people, this day is family gatherings, pool days, cookouts, long weekends, and the unofficial start of summer.
But for others, Memorial Day is grief.
It is remembrance.
It is reflection.
It’s a day tied to the absence, the sacrifice, and the lives that never fully returned home.
It’s not simply about patriotism… At its core, Memorial Day exists to honor the service members who lost their lives in military service, along with their families, loved ones, and communities forever impacted by that loss.
Invisible illness & disability communities understand deeply that sacrifice often leaves lifelong impacts behind, even long after the public attention fades.
Many veterans return home carrying chronic pain, disabilities, PTSD, complex medical conditions, trauma, grief, or life-altering injuries that continue shaping daily life for years or decades afterward.
Many military families carry invisible burdens too…
So this Memorial Day weekend, I’m thinking of veterans navigating disability and chronic illness, military families carrying grief, caregivers supporting loved ones, and the families of those who never made it home at all…
I also want to share a gentle reminder that many veterans and military families themselves have expressed over the years:
While almost always well-intentioned, saying “Happy Memorial Day” can oftentimes feel tone deaf to those actively grieving someone they lost in service.
For many families, this day is not celebratory. It’s not a “happy” day…
It is sacred, emotional, and deeply personal.
Instead, a simple “thinking of those we’ve lost,” “honoring those who served and sacrificed,” or “wishing you a peaceful Memorial Day” often carries far more care and awareness.
Today is about remembering the people…
The lives.
The sacrifice.
The families who continue carrying that love and loss forward every single day. ❤️
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If you or someone you love is struggling with grief, PTSD, mental health challenges, or the lasting impacts of military service, support is available:
• Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1
• TAPS: Support for families grieving military loss
• VA Mental Health Resources
• Cohen Veterans Network
• Wounded Warrior Project
You do not have to carry this alone. ❤️
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