Remembering With Gratitude

As the sun rises over the Sandhills casting its golden light across the land, the American flag waves gently in the morning breeze. It’s a simple, powerful sight — one that holds the weight of sacrifice, service, and freedom.

Today, on Memorial Day, we pause to honor those who gave everything in service to our country. The ones who never came home. The men and women who left behind families, farms, and futures — all so we could live ours.

For many of us in rural America, that sacrifice feels especially close to home. The names etched on memorials in small towns. The stories passed down over kitchen tables. The folded flags in family homes. We remember them not just today, but every day.

This image — a flag standing tall at sunrise — reminds me that freedom isn’t just a word. It’s something that’s been fiercely protected, generation after generation. And it’s something worth pausing for.

To all who have served, to those who carry the memory of someone who didn’t return, and to the families who carry the weight of loss — we remember. We honor. We thank you.

With gratitude,
Darcia