Mark Memorial Day by honoring veterans: #tellusatoday

Our Twitter followers and readers tell us what Memorial Day means to them and how they mark it each year. Letter to the editor:

What does Memorial Day mean to this veteran? Please allow me to sum up my feelings as simply as possible. I, like my forefathers and my son, love this great country with all my heart and my soul.

Unfortunately, many Americans, including some elected officials, businesses and the Department of Veterans Affairs mistreat those who bravely have worn the uniform of this great country. I am offended that some NFL teams had to be paid by the Defense Department to feature soldiers during games.

Regardless, I would proudly put on that uniform again and unconditionally die for "Old Glory" and all that it has and will stand for. What people can never take away from us veterans is our heart and soul. God bless America.

Richard Sparks; Bowling Green, Mo.

Comments from Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

On Memorial Day, I like to keep it simple and poignant: no traveling and no cookouts. On TV, I'm looking for the soldiers' stories.

— @ronaldp4959

Memorial Day is a solemn, fitting commemoration of the ultimate sacrifice of our veterans throughout history.

— @NMMan

I fly my flag at my house, a practice that isn't seen much anymore.

— @JorgetheBull

The holiday always sneaks up on me. If you're young, it often doesn't mean that much. We desperately need an upsurge in nationalism.

— @MontanaRusa509

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion and #tellusatoday on Twitter.