Over time we have traveled to a great many places around the world by air, land, river and sea.  Have we seen it all? Oh my no. Not even close. But with few exceptions, limited mostly by time and resources; we can.  We owe our ability to travel to a number of factors, least of which is not those who died while serving in our armed forces. Memorial Day is when we officially remember them, although it seems we have been remembering them a lot more lately.

Memorial Day is often confused with Veteran’s Day which celebrates the service of all United States military veterans. Understandable: both honor brave people who were a part of something bigger than life. They may not have died on the battlefield.  They might have never been injured in service to their country.  Still, they all helped create the world in which we are mostly free to travel in one way or another. Honoring the service of military members is a part of the global travel industry that I admire most.

It might be a military-themed cruise, a discount for active or past service members, onboard credit in recognition of their time in the armed forces or someone giving up their first class seat on a flight to a member of our military.  Regardless of where those Memorial Day thanks come from: give them.  Reading this space right now, odds are you have more than a passing interest in travel somewhere other than within the boundaries of the continental United States.

Reading this space right now, odds are you have more than a passing interest in travel somewhere other than within the boundaries of the continental United States.  Two thoughts on that:

1. We need travel no further than the local grocery story and still, we owe Memorial Day thanks to our military for ensuring our ability to do so.
2. It has been and probably will be United States military members who gave and will give their lives to enable safe travel outside our borders as well.

As we prepare to travel internationally next week, you better believe we’ll be thinking of our military members and the sacrifices made to enable our ability to do so.