A Memorial Day Reflection: Honor, Sacrifice & The Families Who Keep Going
Kinnen (age 4)
It’s Memorial Day. Our hearts are full of deep gratitude. For many this is a long weekend filled with fun, adventure, family time and back yard bbq’s. Yet, for countless others, it is an emotional reminder of another day without a loved one.
At Lemon Cake, we’re all about finding light in the hard things. So this week, we wanted to pause—not just to acknowledge the long weekend or the unofficial start of summer—but to honor the true meaning of this day: remembering those who gave their lives in service to our country.
(Washington DC, The Freedom Wall)
Both Amber and I come from proud military family lines. We’ve had servicemen in our families who served selflessly and exemplified true courage. We know what it means to carry that legacy with reverence. We also see and deeply respect the brave men and women who are still serving today—many of whom are quietly juggling missions at home and abroad while also parenting medically complex children or children with disabilities.
And that's who we want to recognize today too: the families who keep going.
Families who lost someone in service, and are now raising children. whether these kids are typical or perhaps with complex medical or developmental needs, these families keep going with an empty chair at the table. still showing up for IEP meetings, therapy appointments, and bedtime routines. Families who never got to finish their version of “normal,” but are still writing new stories out of the pages they’ve been given.
Kinnen at Arlington National Cemetery.
2020 - age 4
Memorial Day reminds us that sacrifice often goes unseen. It’s not always found in uniforms or ceremonies—it shows up in the quiet, persistent courage of those who keep going long after the headlines fade. And so does strength. Strength looks like a widow holding her child through a medical procedure alone. It looks like a veteran showing up for their kid’s therapy appointment while managing their own scars—visible or not. It looks like a military spouse advocating for services in a brand-new city after yet another relocation. These acts might not make the news, but they matter. They’re the continuation of the legacy left by those who gave everything. And in our community, we honor that strength not just with words, but with the way we show up for one another—day in and day out.
We also want to acknowledge that this space—this Lemon Cake community—is not separate from the military story. There are veterans living with disabilities, raising kids with additional needs. There are caregivers serving double duty—once for their country, now for their families. There are active-duty parents doing late-night feedings through a G-tube and then heading to base the next morning.
It’s not lost on us.
Kinnen in Washington DC.
One of her great-grandfather’s fought heroically on the beach of Normandy on D-Day. WWII while another served valiantly in the Korean War.
So today, we invite you to pause. To remember. And to honor those who paid the ultimate price—not only with silence or sorrow, but with purpose. Let’s carry their legacy by seeing the unseen, lifting the quiet heroes among us, and continuing to care deeply about the things that matter.
If you’re looking for a way to give back today, we encourage you to check out organizations like:
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation:
Mission: to provides college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. They are deeply focused on honoring legacy through education and family stability.
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
Mission: to offer compassionate care and resources to all those grieving the loss of a military loved one, including peer support, grief counseling, and kids’ camps. They are trusted among Gold Star families.
Mission: Provides scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members. Founded by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, a fighter pilot and PGA pro.
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Mission: Offers support, community, and service opportunities for mothers who have lost a child in military service. Rich with heritage, tradition, and values centered around family, honor, and patriotism.
You never know whose story you’re helping rewrite with your support.
This Memorial Day, may we hold space for both the visible and invisible sacrifices. As mothers, caregivers, and citizens, we can honor the fallen by lifting up the families who continue to live out the legacy of service through resilience, advocacy, and love. If this message spoke to your heart, we invite you to share this blog with a friend who’s observing today with honor—especially someone who may be carrying the weight of remembrance in quiet ways. Let’s keep showing up for one another, not just on Memorial Day, but every day we have the privilege to live freely.
In honor and gratitude,
Chelsea & Amber
