While a lot of people consider Savvy Shopping to be all about money, I think this endeavor is as much about values. Whether the issue is getting the best price or preserving the things we cherish, the challenge is keeping our eyes open.

For example, everyone knows that peel-off coupons are frequently on packages, but I’ve seen many shoppers overlook them. I think a reason for the oversights is that deals can be so abundant that they become invisible. In a way, it is like fish that are unaware of the water that surrounds them.

In a similar vein, the many blessings of being an American present a comparable situation. Our society offers so many benefits that it’s a challenge to appreciate all of them properly. Although living up to those who sacrifice everything is impossible, sharpening our eye for our country’s value is a good way to honor them.

As you probably know, Memorial Day is tomorrow and represents just such a time. In my book, this day is more significant than the others because no society can be sustained without the kind of devotion that Memorial Day commemorates. To help bring the value into clearer view, here are some ideas:

• Lubbock Area Veterans War Memorial: Completed in 2003 and located at Huneke Park (82nd Street and Nashville Avenue), this memorial is dedicated to area veterans who paid the ultimate price. Although there is never a bad time to visit, it certainly makes sense to do so this coming Monday.

• Texas South Plains Honor Flight (TSPHF): The TSPHF Committee is a non-profit group dedicated to honoring the service of area veterans by giving them a three-day trip to our nation’s capital to see the memorials that they inspired. Specifically, the TSPHF hosts and sponsors this yearly undertaking at no cost to participating veterans. All expenses including the charter flight, lodging, and meals are covered by contributions from local civic groups and private donors. When thinking about charities to contribute time or money to, you might consider this worthy cause (www.texassouthplainshonorflight.org/).

• Vietnam Center and Archive: This center is at Texas Tech and dedicated to preserving the history of the Vietnam Conflict. At times, guests give talks about this war with many being inspiring stories of heroism, sacrifice, and patriotism. For more information, go to http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/.

• Silent Wings Museum: Near the Lubbock airport is a museum dedicated to World War II veterans who manned military gliders. Although the museum isn't large, a visit will give a better understanding of the risks that were taken. To give an idea of the danger, the duty entailed flying unarmored craft into heavy fire with a landing that was almost as hazardous as the approach. While the nominal admission fee pales in comparison to the courage of the men who were part of this special group, the Silent Wings Museum is offering free admission for those currently serving in the US Military and up to five family members. For more information, visit https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/silent-wings-museum.

• Online Resources: If you can’t get out, there are resources available to find out more about Memorial Day like the Veteran’s Administration (www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/), the Teaching History Project (teachinghistory.org/nhec-blog/25582) , and a website for kids called SurfNet (www.surfnetkids.com/resources/memorial-day/).

If you have Memorial Day off, take time to give some of these suggestions a try. They are close to home, easy on the pocketbook, and give credit where it is due.

Since savvy shopping is all about value and values, Memorial Day is an altogether fitting subject. Ultimately, increasing our appreciation of Memorial Day's meaning can not only renew our dedication, but might also help reduce the need for future sacrifices. If both could be achieved, I would be hard pressed to find a better deal.

If you have additional ideas for increasing appreciation for America and its value, we would love to hear them. Please visit and "Like" our Facebook site (Click www.facebook.com/LubbockSavvyShopper or log on to Facebook and enter “Lubbock Savvy Shopper” in the search tool) or write us at SavvyShopperLubbock@gmail.com and let us know your thoughts. Also, to stay abreast of developments, follow us on Twitter to get updates: https://twitter.com/LbbSavvyShopper.

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SEAN FIELDS is the A-J’s Savvy Shopper. Read his columns Sundays and Wednesdays. Email him at SavvyShopperLubbock@gmail.com, like his Facebook page at Facebook.com/LubbockSavvyShopper, or see previous columns and deals at lubbockonline.com/savvy-shopper.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Savvy Shopper: Sharpening our eye to our country’s value this Memorial Day