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Image and video hosting by TinyPic Cast: Jonathan Bennett, James Cromwell, John Cromwell, Jackson Bond

Director: Sam Fischer

Genre: Action / Adventure, War, Drama

Year: 2012

Rating: R

When SSgt. Kyle Vogel leaves a handwritten letter on the seat of his car, grabs a pistol and steps into a Minnesota forest, we wonder who he is and what he’s about to do. Flash back a few months as Vogel lies wounded in a hospital near Anbar Province, Iraq. The night before he’s due to return to combat, his doctor, Lt. Kelly Tripp, presses him on why he’s so obsessed with collecting battle souvenirs. Kyle proceeds to tell her what happened on Memorial Day, 1993, when, as a 13-year old boy, he discovered his Grandpa Bud’s WWII footlocker. Though reluctant to talk about the war, Bud, who served with the 82nd Airborne, strikes a deal with Kyle: “Pick any three objects, and I’ll tell you the story behind each one.” As we see Bud’s WWII tales from Europe, we also see how Kyle’s experiences in Iraq have paralleled them—and how that day on the porch will affect how he ultimately deals with the losses, regrets and moral dilemmas that unite all soldiers across wars and generations.

Even if you're not a fan of war movies this is one film everyone should see. "Memorial Day" brings the holiday to vivid life when 13-year-old Kyle discovers his grandfather's trunk while playing hide-and-seek. At first the grandfather, Bud, tells the youngster to put it back because like many that have been to war and return they would rather now talk about it. But eventually decides to make a puzzle out of the trunk and the holiday. He tells Kyle to pick any three items out of the box and he'll tell the story behind the souvenir. The film also flashes forward to show Kyle, now a soldier himself, in the Iraq war, injured and being questioned by a nurse about his own experiences. Bud, a WWII soldier, shares decisions he made, some good, some bad, but he makes it clear that you make them and you have to move on from them after. Years later Kyle will remember his grandfather's choices and perhaps think a bit more before making his but in the end he also realizes that war is war.

The film spans two wars but the over-all messages are one in the same and it shows the effect war has on those serving it and their families long after they return home.

"Memorial Day" is a thoughtful and touching story with terrific acting that never needs to be preachy to get it's message across. A must-see film the entire family can sit down to and enjoy, I hope this encourages all veterans, men and women alike to tell their stories so that we and future generations will understand and appreciate their experiences.

The acting in the film is both realistic and powerful, Cromwell and Bennett are a joy to watch and the supporting cast all do a great job as well.

Available on DVD and Blu-ray, both come with Special Features that include:

Behind the Scenes

Commentary with Cast, Director and Writer

Released by Image Entertainment

***** Out Of *****