I remember thinking as a kid that June was a wonderful month–no school, long, lazy days, and intriguing firefly-lit nights. But it wasn't until I became an adult that I really understood some of the “specialness” of June. June is far more than just the beginning of summer. It is a month with a number of days that pay honor to something or someone who reminds us of why America is the "land of the free and the home of the brave."

Last week held two of these important dates. The first fell on June 5, the three-year Anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s Death. This great American President deserves our remembrance and honor. He exemplified the true conservative and really the true American: believing in a government that governs least, vying for the unborn, and wearing his faith on his shoulder. Not only this, he exemplified citizen life as well. Growing up in the lower middle class, he utilized our free-market economy to make a name for himself in radio and acting. The anniversary of Reagan’s death should be a time when we reflect on where President Reagan brought this country and where we are now, some 21 years after his presidency. This should be a time when we honor him by standing for and working for what he believed in. As he stated so well, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Then, on June 6, we commemorate D-Day, or The Decisive Day. This military operation was the first breach of Hitler's Atlantic wall and was the make-or-break point in World War II. On June 6, 1944, over 4,000 ships landed American and British divisions on the Normandy beaches in France. More than 6000 Americans died in this bloody invasion. Some say even now the water at this beach is red with the blood of the slain soldiers. Streaming ashore behind the U.S. flag, America's husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers valiantly fought–and died–because they believed in America and sought to protect her freedoms. Honoring such veterans is right and proper–and must continue to be part of our cultural tradition and transmission.

We're losing our World War II veterans at a staggering rate. All too soon, we will have virtually no one left who can give us eye-witness accounts of what they saw and experienced in this war. With each passing year, the memory of World War II becomes dimmer and the horror less horrifying. Honoring our these vets with monuments such as the one in Washington, D.C. and capitalizing on every opportunity to have our young people listen to these heroes and glean from their experience and wisdom, is the least we can do to memorialize their sacrifices.

On June 14, we give honor and respect to that great symbol of our country, our flag. "Old Glory" not only led the troops into battle on D-Day, it also draped the coffins of many who lost their lives. The "Stars and Stripes" has not by itself made America great, but it does remind us of what it means to be an American and of those who have given their lives to secure our liberties. Great nations treat national symbols with respect; and so appropriately we have a day, Flag Day, set aside to honor our flag. May we long continue setting aside one day a year to remind us of what this national symbol means.

And last, but certainly not least, on the third Sunday in June, we celebrate Father's Day–a day when we nationally honor fathers. As the leaders of families, strong fathers are vital to keeping America healthy. The strong family units that loving fathers produce form the warp and woof of what has historically made us a great people. As never before, we need to honor fathers and encourage them to be the men God wants them to be. It is altogether fitting and proper that we have a special day to recognize our fathers; that we seek to find ways to let them know we love them and appreciate their involvement in our lives.

All across America today, we have families where the father is absent. In recent years, groups have been formed to try to shore up fatherhood, to try to teach young men the importance of being a dad if you choose to bring a child into this world. We're finally realizing that the best of all possible situations for a child is to be in a traditional family, one with a mom–and a dad! Let's let our dads know this coming Sunday that we love them. Let's show them how important they are to us! Truly, fathers are important to America!

Wisconsin Family Council hopes that you will take time this month to give "honor to whom honor is due" and thank God that we still have a nation that allows us the privilege of official recognition of those people and symbols worthy of honor. May we purpose to do individually what we can to be sure the next generation is appropriately instructed about these four great observances by both our word and our example.

For Wisconsin Family Council, I’m Julaine Appling reminding you the Prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”