• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, May 23, 2019

Budweiser, the self-proclaimed “king of beers,” posted a YouTube video today reminding us about the true meaning of Memorial Day — remembering those servicemen and servicewomen who have sacrificed their lives in the service of their fellow countrymen. 

That meaning gets lost in a lot of noise about Memorial Day sales events and the start of the summer season.

All that noise is a fact of life, and I don’t wish it away, as long as we remember what the day is really about: The fact that many good people have died so the rest of us can enjoy our “summer seasons” as we please. 

The brewer is planning a moment of silence on Memorial Day, at 3 p.m. when among other things, its primary breweries will cease operations for one minute in remembrance of the country’s fallen heroes. 

I’m sure Budweiser is not the only company planning to recognize veterans this coming Monday.

But I’m glad the brewer is proactively spreading the word and encouraging others to stop whatever they’re doing Monday at 3 p.m. It's a moment to pause and reflect, for just a minute, about the ultimate sacrifice that many of our fellow countryman have given, so the rest of us can live our lives to the fullest.