This weekend, as you enjoy time with family and friends, take a moment to think about Maui soldiers and the true meaning of Memorial Day.

While many people on Monday’s holiday celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer coming in June, the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, a World War II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for his valor with the U.S. Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team, emphasized that Memorial Day is “a time to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made by Americans in combat.”

We should also think about and thank veterans and soldiers serving today.

“On this day, we must remember and honor the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Armed Services and their families, who give up so much and risk everything to defend our great nation. My war ended many decades ago, but I know what it means to fight in a faraway land, separated from your family and friends. To those who continue to define bravery by serving in the military, I thank you and I wish you safe passage back to your families and loved ones,” said Inouye on Memorial Day in 2011.

This weekend, remember Kelly Bolor, Jay Cajimat and all of Lahaina’s Beloved War Dead: Clarence Aki, Matsuei Ajitomi, Tokio Ajitomo, Jaime Barreto, Vincent Bedoya, Giichi Chinen, Manuel Freitas, Takeo Fujiyama, Katsumi Harada, Masami Higuchi, Susumu Imano, Kenneth Kaaihue, Michael Kaaihue, Lincoln Kaumeheiwa, Sadao Kawamoto, Tadashi Miyahira, Akeji Morinaga, Gary R. Naganuma, Martin Naganuma, Gary A. Nakaima, Kosei Nakamura, Hideichi Nakata, Albert Neizman, Masayoshi Oba, Sanichi Oba, Hiroshi Oku, Masanao Otake, Warren Prescott, Walter Rickard, Nobumi Shibao, Nobuo Shishido, Jiro Suzawa, Hitoshi Taguchi, Tadashi Wakabayashi and Mitsuichi Yoshigai.

Keep these heroes, as well as the soldiers of today and their families waiting for them at home, in your thoughts and prayers on Monday.