Rob O’Neill, The Navy SEAL Who Killed Osama Bin Laden, On Remembering Fallen Troops On Memorial Day: “When You Crack That First Cold One, Raise It Up To The Sky”

Robert Oneil

It’s not just another three day weekend.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and is also a much-anticipated three day weekend for many people.

But Rob O’Neill, the Navy SEAL who became famous for being the man who killed Osama Bin Laden, has an important message as people get ready to fire up the grills, crack a cold one, and spend the long weekend with friends and family:

Don’t forget why we have the day off in the first place.

During an episode of his podcast, The Operator, O’Neill shared his thoughts on the holiday, and what the long weekend would mean to all those who gave their lives serving their country so we can be free:

“I was asked, ‘Do you say Happy Memorial Day?’

Sure. A lot of people don’t know what it is. They know they get the day off. You can say ‘Have a blessed Memorial Day.’

And then the thing I’ve noticed, all my friends that were killed in combat, they would want you to have the day off. They would say, ‘If this went down, you guys better get something for it.’

And I guarantee, on Monday when you crack that first cold one, you raise it up to the sky, give them a toast, they’ll toast right back to you.

They’d want you to have it.”

Amen.

Now obviously I’ve never served in the military. The men and women who do are way more badass than I could ever be, and I’m thankful for them each and every day as they risk their lives for me to live my life in the greatest country in the history of the world.

But on Memorial Day, it’s important to remember all those who gave their lives fighting for our freedom – regardless of your thoughts on the war or the cause or anything else.

Remember, it’s because of them that you live in a country that lets us disagree.

And you’ve gotta think that Rob’s right: They would want you to have the day off.

Have a blessed Memorial Day weekend everybody.

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