Greetings.  The real importance of Memorial Day often seems lost amid "holiday" sales, cookouts, beach weekends, soccer tournaments and the semi-official start of summer.  Events that are all about hitting the highway in search of great bargains, recreation or a relaxing break.  While I won't pass judgment on whether we really need a break at this point in the year, I will simply hope that on this day and every other day of the year, all of us stop to honor the men and women who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we hold dear.  And that we also take the time to honor and thank the men and women in uniform who are right now risking their lives to protect us–not just today but every time we see them.

We live in a very uncertain world that calls on many of our friends, neighbors and family members to interrupt their opportunities for holiday sales, cookouts, beach weekends, kids' soccer tournaments and the semi-official start of summer.  Events that most of us can take for granted because they are somewhere in harm's way.

Memorial Day is a day filled with simple and essential meaning for all of us and the companies and organizations we work for.  Simple and essential meaning that we should feel obligated to never forget.

With thanks and gratitude.