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Many people left work Friday looking forward to their "three-day weekend."
Perhaps they were excited at the thought of not having to go to work tomorrow. And still get paid.
Maybe they consider Monday to be the unofficial start of summer and are saying goodbye to cold weather. At least for a little while.
Some are waiting in anticipation to attend a parade or that annual cookout and drinks with close friends or neighbors.
Others will be content having a family barbecue or picnic in the backyard.
And should the sun appear, many will probably take advantage by visiting their community pool.
A few people just might want to sleep in on a weekday for a change.
Those who live near a beach are guaranteed to spend the day sunbathing, surfing and swimming.
To sum it up, most of the country will be spending this Monday celebrating in one way or another. Isn't that what holidays are for?
But what are we actually celebrating?
Monday is supposed to be a somber day. Perhaps the saddest of the 365 on the calendar.
And yet, so many people think of it as a time of jubilation.
Yes, it is wonderful to receive a paid holiday off from work.
Yes, the warm weather is perfect for outdoor activities … planting flowers, creating a garden, cutting the lawn or washing the car.
And anything cooked outside on the grill is absolutely amazing.
But Memorial Day is not about any of this. It isn't about listening to a 24-hour countdown of the top 500 songs of all-time.
Those 24 hours were meant for something more meaningful.
Something far more important than a burger, a beer and a cute little red, white and blue bikini.
These are all fantastic examples of what should be done for the Fourth of July.
America's birthday.
Now, that is a time and reason in which to celebrate.
But certainly not on Memorial Day.
It's purpose was meant for us to remember.
To mourn those soldiers who are no longer here.
To realize and acknowledge the ones who left home with the intent of coming back. But never did.
It's a day to solemnly contemplate what it actually costs for us to live freely.
That cost is the life of an American soldier.
He was someone's son.
She was somebody's daughter.
They were a mom or a dad who only wanted to complete their mission and return home to hug their children once again.
They were someone.
Many, many someones.
As the mother of a serviceman, I pray every moment of every day that my son returns home safely.
I plead with God constantly, asking him to protect my child.
Begging that if anything terrible is going to happen, to let it happen to me, instead.
I never want to even imagine that kind of pain, for it would be far too much to bear.
My heart truly goes out to all of the families who have lost someone they loved that died while serving.
The saddest part is that they became a soldier in order to protect me.
They became a member of the military in order to protect you.
They literally gave everything they had to give -- their one chance at life, so that we can remain a free country.
They died trying to protect us from those who hate us. Those who are out to destroy us.
For no reason whatsoever other than we are free.
And that we are the United States of America.
I would ask that at some point throughout your Memorial Day holiday, that you please stop for just a minute.
In between the cooking, the eating, the laughter … before or after the swimming, the sunbathing and the cookouts … just stop for one minute.
Because the very least we could do for those that died defending us, is remember them on Memorial Day.
Even if it's only for a moment.
(Stenger, a resident of Toronto, is the community editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times)