"Memorial Day much more than barbecues."

That was the headline to a story by David A. Beall in Saturday morning's edition of the Times-Union that had local veterans giving the true definition of the fourth Monday in May.

My father, a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran and past commander of Warsaw American Legion Post 49, was quoted in that story as saying, "It's a day to remember the veterans who paid a great price for this country - those who died, but also those who were wounded and those who came back with other problems."

That's what May 31 is all about! The last day in May has nothing to do with picnics, barbecues or parties.

Don't get me wrong. I love my job, but when I had to tell my dad I couldn't make it to the Memorial Service at Oakwood Cemetary because I was covering the IHSAA baseball sectional at Wawasee High School, he was almost as disgruntled as I was.

I'm just 21 years old, and for 20 of those years I've been a member of the Sons of the American Legion. I've been to hundreds and hundreds of sporting events in my day, and every time I hear the national anthem I get goosebumps. Every time.

OK, so I'm babbling, but my point is simple. The IHSAA should not have scheduled baseball and softball sectionals to start on Monday. Just like my father told me this weekend before he left to visit the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Home in Knightstown, Memorial Day is commercialized. It's not about the millions of soldiers who have paid the ultimate price so that we could be free. It's not about the thousands and thousands of soldiers in Kosovo right now either. Nowadays, Memorial Day is nothing more than another day off work. Get the burgers on, honey, the Pacers are coming on.

I guess freedom is another one of those things everyone likes to take for granted. But, then again, what do I know? I'm only 21.

I said that I got goosebumps every time I hear the national anthem, Monday on my way to Wawasee to cover the baseball game, I drove through downtown North Webster where the gathering for a parade had started taking place. Again I got goosebumps. I may be wrong, but most of those who attended the parade were probably either veterans or friends and family of veterans because the bleachers at the ballpark were packed.

Now I know that there's only so many days in the year that the IHSAA can schedule these ballgames, but Memorial Day? Come on, you can do better than that. What's starting one day later gonna hurt? When the nation was mourning for the victims in Littleton, Colo., professional sports teams cancelled games to pay their respects. The Colorado Rockies even wore patches to pay homage to the victims. When was the last time you thanked a veteran for the thousands of freedoms you enjoy today, when you were drinking beer at the ballpark because you had the day off?

Maybe I'm going off the deep end, but I know what Memorial Day is all about, and I know it has nothing to do with the Pacers or the Chicago Cubs or sitting in the air conditioning on your three-day weekend.

So thanks, Dad, for sharing with me what this day is all about. And when I go cover my next ballgame I'll probably get goosebumps again. In fact, I know I will. [[In-content Ad]]