Another Memorial Day weekend is upon this nation. Our freedom to enjoy any manner of leisure pursuits this weekend, to move freely about this great land and otherwise observe — or not, if we’re so inclined — the hallowed nature of this holiday speaks to the awesome benefits of liberty that we too often take for granted.
One by one, an unending caravan of American military personnel have paid with their lives to make that so. Their number is a sobering toll, both individually and collectively. Freedom is anything but free.
President George H.W. Bush, himself a combat veteran, made the following observations in his 1992 Memorial Day proclamation. “The men and women who gave their lives in service to our country were dedicated to the worthy cause of freedom, and not one of them died in vain. From colonial America to the Persian Gulf, from places such as the Argonne to Normandy, Inchon, and Da Nang — they fought and sacrificed so others might live in peace, free from the fear of tyranny and aggression. On this Memorial Day, our hearts should swell with thankfulness and pride as we reflect on our Nation’s enduring heritage of liberty under law and on the continuing expansion of democratic ideals around the globe.
“Today, inspired by the selfless actions and by the noble legacy of our Nation’s war dead, let us rededicate ourselves to the unfinished work of which President Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg. Let us renew our determination to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law, and let us pray for fortitude and discernment as we go about that unending task.”
The rows of white headstones at military cemeteries each tell a story. We can never intimately know all of these tales, but we should never forget the sacrifice and suffering they represent. The America we enjoy is the result of those who gave all to keep this homeland safe and secure.
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