May is a Memorial Month

Memorial Month

May brings some great events to celebrate. Memorial Day, Mother’s Day and my Mother’s 92nd birthday. All of them involve honor people that have dedicated their lives to making sure I had a better place to live.

Think about the number 651,031. That is the number of US soldiers killed in battle defending the United States since the American Revolution. And another 308,800 soldiers died outside of the theater the battle. That is almost 1 million soldiers who gave their lives during a time of war. I am so thankful for each and every one of those men and women that helped make keep our country free. As a veteran, I know the personal sacrifices that military families make to serve our country so each and every day I give thanks for them.

And each and every day, I give thanks for my mother who turns 92 in May! She stepped into an already made family and instilled into me my values. My first mother died when I was three leaving my dad with two girls and me. (More about him next month when we talk about Father’s Day.) She stepped right in, added two more boys to the family to tip the scales towards the boys side and raised us all. She came to my wrestling matches, football games and band concerts. When she developed dementia, I was able to step in and increase her quality of life by using Person Centered Care. I think maybe that is why I started my company – to care for her. Thanks for everything you did for me, Mother.