Memorial Day has always been the unofficial kickoff to summer—but the older I get, the more I realize it’s so much more than that. It’s a day woven with layers of history, gratitude, and quiet reflection.

As a child, I loved it for the sunshine, the food, the gathering of family. But now, I find myself thinking more deeply about what it means to even have the freedom to gather. The sacrifices that have been made—many we’ll never know by name—are what allow us to enjoy something as simple as a backyard meal or the laughter of kids playing freely. It’s easy to take that for granted when freedom is all we’ve ever known. Sometimes, we even trade bits of it for a sense of safety, forgetting how precious it truly is.

Still, in all its simplicity, Memorial Day brings something sacred: the traditions we carry. For my family, it means heading to my aunt’s house where the grill never cools down and there’s always far too much food (but somehow, never enough room on our plates).

My grandmother has this tradition where she makes each grandchild’s favorite sandwich—cut into perfect little triangles, just the way we like them. It’s thoughtful in a way that only she can be, and it’s those small gestures that make these moments unforgettable. Add to that a table overflowing with desserts, each one tied to a memory, and you’ve got a day that feels like home in every sense of the word.

These moments—sunshine on your skin, the smell of barbecue in the air, the familiar hum of voices that sound like home—are more than just summer traditions. They are a quiet celebration of the freedom others fought for, and a reminder to never let that go unnoticed.

Wherever you find yourself this Memorial Day, I hope you pause. Not just to remember, but to truly feel the weight and wonder of what it means to be free—and to celebrate that with the ones you love.