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Each year, the last Monday in May is set aside as a time to remember and honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Cities and towns throughout the nation host Memorial Day parades that often include military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. In Dallas, individuals can take part in the Carry the Load Dallas Memorial March, a two-day event that begins at Reverchon Park along the Katy Trail.

For some individuals throughout the metroplex, Memorial Day can be an emotional holiday, particularly for those whose loved ones lost their lives during their time in service. To Dallas-area resident Chris Royal, who is a member of the U.S. Air Force, this day is an opportunity that he doesn’t take lightly.

“Serving in the military and being a grandson and nephew of veterans, Memorial Day has special significance to me,” he said. “It is a time to reflect and honor those I know paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. After serving on a few combat deployments overseas, I experienced these sacrifices firsthand, and today is a period to remember those individuals and celebrate the dedication they gave—not just to the armed forces but to the entire country.”

And as Royal pointed out, recognizing the sacrifices others have made in the past can help people appreciate the resulting freedoms and privileges they have now.

“There are also the hundreds of thousands of men and women who gave their lives over countless conflicts throughout our history, and today is about honoring those who never made it back home,” he said.

“Learning about the history of Memorial Day and showing reverence to the fallen goes a long way in preserving the memory of those who died defending our lifestyle. It has nothing to do with whether you believe our country should have been at war; it’s about acknowledging the inevitable fact that a servicemember was told to go fight, and some did not have the opportunity to make it home.”

For U.S. Army member Dane Sebring, who lives in the Mid-Atlantic area, this holiday also hits close to home and is one that he believes should continue to call attention to its original intended purposes.

“Sadly, I’ve lost a lot of good friends in combat or to suicide,” he said. “The most important thing we can do is continue to say their names and tell their stories. The most important thing non-military people can do is listen.”

And while many individuals use this day as one to celebrate the end of one season to the onset of another, Royal said it’s important to remember why such celebrations are even able to occur.

“Memorial Day is a holiday weekend that marks the beginning of summer for us,” he said. “It is time to spend with friends and family, enjoying barbeque and drinks around the pool—and rightfully so. Just know this way of life was possible because of the sacrifices made from generations of American servicemembers. Be sure to have a meaningful Memorial Day by spending a little time remembering the fallen.”

Spanning nearly 32,000 square miles, Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area).

Though the Dallas Stars are still on their quest to return to the Stanley Cup Finals (get those rally towels ready for tonight’s game), the Texas Rangers will help local fans get their sports fills throughout the summer.

Dallas-area resident Ashley Hill has been going to games since back when they were played in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (later named Globe Life Park), and she enjoys being able to continue seeing live games when she can at Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020.

“My parents used to take us every summer when we were growing up to see the Rangers play, and even when they were really bad, we loved going to games,” she said. “I have some great childhood memories and still love going as an adult.”

Fort Worth-area resident Sam Parnell considers himself more of a “casual fan” but developed a stronger interest in the team two to three years ago.

“I started doing a lot of video work with the Rangers, so I kind of fell into rooting for them, which has really paid off this season,” he said. “I don’t get to go a lot—maybe two-ish games a season—but I try to have the games on TV whenever I can. Thank you, parents-in-law’s Bally Sports login.”

When people are able to attend, there are a variety of aspects of the entire experience that allow individuals of all fandom levels to enjoy their time in Arlington. Hill is a devoted fan of local sports teams (and sports, in general) and loves being able to be part of what she considers a fun atmosphere.

“I love the crowd chants and the people watching,” she said. “The last game I went to, the Rangers had, I think, four home runs, including a grand slam, so games like that are always fun, too.”

For fans concerned with games taking too long, the incorporation of the pitch clock has helped shorten games significantly. If the bases are empty, pitchers have 15 seconds to throw; if there are runners on base, they have 20 seconds. Hitters must be in the batter’s box with eight seconds on the pitch clock. While game length previously averaged more than three hours, this season’s games have averaged two hours and 38 minutes. The adoption of the pitch clock has been a life-changing experience for avid baseball fans like Dallas resident Dan Sullivan.

“I think the pitch clock is the best innovation in baseball in my lifetime and possibly the greatest innovation in all of human history,” he said.

For those who don’t enjoy roasting in their seats in the sweltering Texas summers, even for a shorter amount of time, Globe Life Field features a retractable roof, allowing Rangers fans to enjoy root, root, rooting for the home team in a much cooler environment. While Hill appreciates some aspects of the ballpark, she said they don’t necessarily feel natural for the sport.

“When Globe Life has the roof closed, it’s definitely weird playing baseball indoors, and I most definitely miss the old park at times,” she said. “But it’s nice to be in the air conditioning during the Texas July heat and not have to wait around for rain delays anymore.”

Some individuals might argue that having a game that is essentially indoors takes away from the true nature of sport. Parnell is not one of those people, though, as he is not as fond of the former ballpark and said he would much rather watch Rangers games in a more comfortable atmosphere.

“My first memory of the old Globe Life Park was going on a summer afternoon and getting my knees sunburned,” he said. “It was a miserable experience. I’ve been to the new Globe Life Field in the afternoon with the roof closed and in the evening with the roof open, and both times, it was perfect.”

Regardless of whether one sees the game in an indoor or outdoor setting, Hill said it’s important to allow yourself to get the full baseball experience.

“Eat a hot dog, get into the cheers and fun atmosphere, and enjoy yourself,” she said. “And stay off of your cell phone.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews dear readers Deirdre Leane + Scott Magdziak enjoy a vacay in Ireland together

Monday, May 29: Dallas Symphony Memorial Day Parks Concert at Flagpole Hill
Thursday, June 1: Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals
Friday, June 2: National Donut Day
Saturday, June 3: WRRC Saturday run at Taco Joint
Sunday, June 4: National Cancer Survivors Day