Getting outside is #1!

It's Memorial Day Weekend. For many of us this means a three-day weekend, and the chance to get outside and hike, backpack, climb, paddle, or camp.

I admit that sometimes I think of Memorial Day Weekend as the unofficial start to the summer camping and hiking season. I'll wager that come Tuesday morning, when I return to my computer, there will be numerous e-mails asking how to set up/seam seal/fix a leaky/broken/confounding tent. (Here's my advance tip: Go to a specialty outdoor store and buy a decent tent. Then seam seal it.)

However, Memorial Day has a meaning far beyond tents, outdoor recreation, and barbeques. It's a day to remember the men and women who have died while serving our country.

Getting outside with the family and friends is a worthy activity, and one I encourage you to take. You can even bring along some new recruits, of any age, and introduce them to the outdoors. Sleep in a tent in the backyard. Hike to the top of a mountain. Paddle to a picnic spot. Run some new trails.

But, while you're enjoying the beauty of our country—its woods, mountains, and waters—don't forget those who have served and who can no longer enjoy its natural treasures. When put in that perspective, the view may be even more beautiful.