Honor By Doing

On Memorial Day we honor all of the men and women that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, like Major Douglas Zembiec in the photo above. 

Zembiec was known as the Lion of Fallujah for his relentless efforts and bravery in one of the most dangerous areas of the Iraqi wars.  On the day he died, Zembiec was leading a unit of Iraqi forces that he helped train.  He warned his troops to get down, suspecting enemy fire.  As he lowered his body, a bullet from the enemy took to his life; Zembiec was 34 years old. 

Memorial Day is a day to honor men and women like Zembiec and others.  It’s also a day to hold parades, make speeches honoring the fallen, enjoy the smell of hot dogs grilling everywhere, and Little League baseball games.  It’s an American tradition we take seriously.   But, we can do more.  We can copy some of the great characteristics that made these men and women such great leaders.

Zembiec was a remarkable person and a remarkable leader.  We can best honor him or others by borrowing from their beliefs and instilling them into our daily life. 

Zembiec’s advice for all:

• Be a person of principle.

• Fight for what you believe in.

• Keep your word.

• Live with integrity.

• Be brave.

• Believe in something bigger than yourself.

• Serve. Teach. Mentor.

• Give something back to society.

• Lead from the front.

• Conquer your fears.

• Be a good friend.

• Be humble and be self-confident.

• Appreciate your friends and family.

• Be a leader and not a follower.

• Be valorous on the field of battle.

• And take responsibility for your actions.

• Never forget those that were killed.

• And never let rest those that killed them.

Take a moment to re-read this list this Memorial Day weekend, then integrate as many into your life.  When we borrow from Zembiec’s beliefs, a piece of him will reside in us, which is the best way to honor him on this Memorial Day. 

Thanking Major Zembiec and those men and women like him isn’t enough.   Being more like him is the honor he and other fallen veterans deserve.