Well, put up a new flag today. No family within 500 miles. Wife in NYC. Siblings and Mom in GA. Sons and grands in MN. Dad, a vet, buried in Michigan. Only living personal friend in Perth, Australia (sent her money to take her 8 yo son to see Avengers 4).
So, you guys are "it".
Enjoy your weekend and remember what it took to give you this day of burgers and reflection.
I like what Chick-fil-a did a year or so ago. They set an empty place setting with symbolic roses and salt and such and a note explaining the reason for each.
No matter what your feelings about the politics of war, you've got to agree that those who served in our wars did so from the motive of loving their countrymen. A lot of them never saw home again and were even buried, if they were buried at all, in the cold clay of foreign soil. Some of them died captive and alone long after the treaties were signed. Some were executed just to tidy up the paperwork … their bodies fed to fish or swine.
They paid a hell of a price so we could have our picnics in peace and know the love of our children.
Spend a few moments reflecting on that … and then go have fun … it's prepaid.