Remembering our troops

Summertime is close at hand.

June through August will bring a whole host of street fairs, festivals and outdoor concerts, many of them within easy reach of Camarillo.

Memorial Day weekend seems to be the unofficial beginning of summer's endless list of family friendly activities.

While enjoying a picnic at the beach with the kids, or a backyard barbecue with the neighbors, it's easy to forget what Memorial Day is all about. Monday's holiday is a time to reflect on the countless Americans throughout history who put their lives on the line for this dream we all enjoy living and paid the ultimate price.

And while recognizing these patriots' bravery and sacrifice, it ought to be our duty to get out and attend a Memorial Day service- be it at the Conejo Mountain Funeral Home and Memorial Park right here in Camarillo or any other throughout the county- on Monday.

Memorial Day programs put on by the veterans themselves present the hard but necessary truth of just how many young men and women from our very own communities have lost their lives in service to the United States. It's an invaluable lesson, especially for young people, so bring along the kids.

It's also a sobering reminder of the troops who currently find themselves at risk in Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters around the world- and why they deserve our deepest love and support now, and especially when they return home.

So enjoy summer's bounty of fun events and be sure to take advantage of all that Camarillo and Southern California have to offer in the coming months.

Just be sure not to forget the men and women who sacrificed their lives so that the rest of us could enjoy these wonderful freedoms.