Another year – another Memorial Day; with a few adjustments for 2014, we proudly send our annual pre-holiday message.

        Another Memorial Day is upon us and with the cost of just about everything continuing to skyrocket and prices rising out of reach of many, there are three prices to consider over your three-day weekend.

        The price of ribs and steaks: You may want to replace those steaks and ribs at this year's barbeque with less expensive hamburgers and hot dogs.  Chicken, pork or seafood can be an inexpensive alternative, as well.  Just make sure the hamburgers aren't part of the 2 million pounds of ground-round that was produced in Detroit, Mich., and recalled recently over a multi-state outbreak of E-Coli infections.

        The suspect ground beef bears the establishment number "2574B" inside the USDA mark of inspection and have a production date code in the format "Packing Nos: MM DD 14" between "03 31 14" and "04 18 14."  A full list of recalled ground beef products is available at www.fsis.usda.gov.

        The price of gasoline: With the price of gasoline in the $3.70 range, some Memorial Day picnickers will replace a trip to the beach or the mountains with a backyard shindig.  Invite friends and family; they could all use a day-off from an expensive drive for an outdoor meal and good, home-grown fun and camaraderie. 

        The price of freedom: This should be considered most of all because many citizens of this great United States too often forget what this day is all about.  Heck, Tuesday was the primary election and more than 80 percent of the voters didn't even bother to exercise one of the basic rights of a democracy that was given to, and protected for them.

        Memorial Day was once known as Decoration Day; it commemorated U.S. servicemen who died in the military service.  It was originally enacted to honor Union soldiers of the Civil War and was extended after World War I to honor those who died in all wars.  To "celebrate" Memorial Day means to remember all who fought, those who died, those who served and those still serving in defense of this great Nation.  Fly your flag on Memorial Day in honor of them.

        President Benjamin Harrison once said, "I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did."

        So go ahead and have fun over the extended weekend that marks Memorial Day and the unofficial beginning of summer.  But take time to bow your head and pray for those who fought and those who died to give you the freedom to do so.

        Thank a military veteran for their service.  Pray for those who serve in harm's way today, that they may return safely to their loved ones.

        Of those who died, President Garfield said, "For love of country they accepted death."

        Always remember, freedom isn't free.