I found myself wishing business associates this past week that they have a “great holiday weekend.” Uh-oh. I didn’t say “Happy Memorial Day.” I hope I have not started a War on Memorial Day like there is on Christmas according to Donald Trump and Fox News. But Happy Memorial Day? That always seemed weird to me since Memorial Day is supposed to be a solemn day of remembrance for those who died while serving in the US Armed Forces. Instead, we get the grill fired up to char some meat, swill beer and yuk it up with friends and family. How solemn is that? Are people who do that unpatriotic? Yes, I think so. Anyone who engages in any non-solemn activity on Memorial Day is as unpatriotic as the NFL players who will be fined for taking a knee during the National Anthem at football games this upcoming season. Backyard grillers – I’m watching you. Beer drinkers – you are on notice. Joke tellers – knock it off. OK, I guess that covers 99% of the USA on Memorial Day. It might not hurt all of us to follow the lead of NFL players and take a knee on Memorial Day to remember those that have fallen in service to this country.

I’m happy to provide just a little background at no cost to you about taking a knee. Ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick met with Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret who suggested that in the military, taking a knee is a sign of respect for the fallen. That’s why Kaepernick took a knee rather than sit. Fake News you say? Here’s Nate Boyer on CNN talking about it …

Looks to me like it may be unpatriotic to not take a knee.