On this Memorial Day, we pause.
In the business of our lives—filled with routines, gatherings, and gentle joys—it can be easy to move through the day as just another long weekend. But at its heart, Memorial Day is a sacred moment: a chance to remember, reflect, and honor.
Today, we at Modern Prairie remember those who gave their lives in service to this country. Their sacrifice wasn’t abstract—it was personal. It was sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends, spouses, and neighbors. It was ordinary people who made an extraordinary choice to serve, and who never made it home.
For many in our community, Memorial Day carries deep emotion. Some of us have stories passed down through generations. Others have folded flags, worn photographs, or graves we visit in quiet. Whether your connection is personal or reverent from a distance, you are welcome here in this moment of remembrance.
We believe there’s something powerful in taking time to honor the past—in keeping traditions alive, and in remembering those who made our freedom possible. You don’t have to do something grand. Sometimes, it’s the small, intentional acts that mean the most.
Here are a few simple ways we’re honoring Memorial Day within our community:
Lighting a candle in the window at dusk.
Sharing stories of loved ones who served.
Placing wildflowers or flags at a local memorial or cemetary.
Cooking a family recipe passed down by someone we've lost.
Sitting in silence, holding space.
As a community rooted in connection and care, we hold this day gently, together. We extend our gratitude not only to those who served, but to the families who carry their memory forward.
If someone in your life has served — and especially if they made the ultimate sacrifice — we invite you to share a memory with us in the comments below.
A name.
A moment.
A lesson.
A photo.
However small or simple it may seem, your story matters. Their courage deserves to be remembered.
From all of us at Modern Prairie, thank you—for remembering, for honoring, and for walking with us in this moment.
With heartfelt appreciation,
The Modern Prairie Team
17 comments
Thank you for these kind words reminding us all to remember. I’m remembering today my brother, US Army Specialist Christopher Neiberger, who was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq on August 6, 2007 at age 22. The years go by and all of us are growing older and he is forever young, strong and brave. America pauses today to remember the way he died. He died a patriot who loved his country and the people he served with. We his family remember the way he lived. We remember the inquisitive little boy with blond hair, the moody teen with close friends, the bother who was always there, the Eagle scout who helped others, and the young man who loved history and philosophy and coffee who could twist ideas around like they were strings and drop a one liner joke to make everyone laugh. We remember it all.
My grandfather Edgar Cordeau was in the army and fought in WWI in France. He was gassed in the trenches and went blind for a year from the strong mustard gas the enemy used. He was hospitalized that entire year in France then came home as a disabled veteran with a purple heart. I never got to meet him because he passed away at 58 when my mom was 25. My father Edgar Cyr fought was in the Navy on a destroyer ship the U.S.S. Chaffee and fought in WWII. His ship was turpdedoed but he made it out alive. He was also a disabled veteran. My cousin fought in Vietnam and came home with a purple heart. My nephew fought in Dessert Storm and is retired now. I honor all of them today and thank them for their service.
My Dad, Donal Lynn Marshall, joined the Navy as soon as he was out of High School. He worked on planes. He married my Mom and got out of the Navy because he was worried he’d be gone all the time, and he joined the Air Force and he was a “lifer” and I was an official Air Force brat. My Dad loved the Air Force. He lived and breathed working on planes, and he was an amazing Crew Chief. He was asked to work on the Thunderbirds but again, he didn’t want to be gone from his family. He went to the Vietnam War and was stationed in Udorn, Thailand in 1969-1970. He came back a different person in many ways. It had been hard for him to be away from his family. Us – Mom, me and my brother.
Military families are close because you rely on each other; you have no relatives close by. You take care of each other. My Dad and Mom taught me how to be caring and open to others and for that I’m grateful, and that comes from being in the military. I’m so very proud of my Dad, and I miss him every day. He died October 13, 2009.
My Dad, Donal Lynn Marshall, joined the Navy as soon as he was out of High School. He worked on planes. He married my Mom and got out of the Navy because he was worried he’d be gone all the time, and he joined the Air Force and he was a “lifer” and I was an official Air Force brat. My Dad loved the Air Force. He lived and breathed working on planes, and he was an amazing Crew Chief. He was asked to work on the Thunderbirds but again, he didn’t want to be gone from his family. He went to the Vietnam War and was stationed in Udorn, Thailand in 1969-1970. He came back a different person in many ways. It had been hard for him to be away from his family. Us – Mom, me and my brother.
Military families are close because you rely on each other; you have no relatives close by. You take care of each other. My Dad and Mom taught me how to be caring and open to others and for that I’m grateful, and that comes from being in the military. I’m so very proud of my Dad, and I miss him every day. He died October 13, 2009.
My son, Capt Jeffrey Thomas “Bull” Braden, is the youngest of my 4 children and my only son. He was an F-22 pilot and proudly served his country though the USAF. He was only 28 years old when he went to be with Jesus on Sep 23, 2016. His passing was sudden and unexpected and we hadn’t spoken with him in over a year since he was deployed and once he got back home to Honolulu he was busy with his career, wife, and 2 year old daughter. He was FUNNY with a wicked quick sense of humor, kind, handsome, fiercely loyal, and a force of nature! When he came into a room, he came in with jokes and laughter and you just felt better about yourself after spending time with him. He loved his home state of Texas and his UT Longhorns. His dad was a High School Coach and he got to coach Jeff in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track. They were a great father/son duo!! He was a hard worker and he didn’t care for injustice of any kind. He knew he wanted to serve his country by the time he was in 8th grade. He received appointments at Westpoint and the United States Air Force Academy. He accepted the appointment to USAFA and once he graduated, he went into pilot training and earned the right to fly the F-22 Raptor. His early and unexpected passing from this world has left a huge hole in my heart and my husband’s heart. Thank you, Melissa, for your EMPATHETIC and WISE words at this invitation to write about him. So many ‘friends’ and family have said to me, “Why are you so sad TODAY?? He didn’t die in battle!” or “Why are so sad at all??? I mean, Jeff was in a dangerous job. You can’t be so surprised he died.” Or “Why are you still so sad? You have 3 other children and 7 grandchildren! Get over it already!” Thank you for allowing me to honor my son, Jeff, today in this space. Also, thank you for allowing me to say his name. I was told by another Gold Star Mother that everyone dies twice….once when they physically pass and once when no one says their name anymore. Thank you again, for making space with me, holding my grief, and listening. I miss you, Jeff! I miss you everyday! I love you!