Memorial Day

A few years ago, I was asked to speak at my hometowns' Memorial Day service. My dad spoke and then I spoke after him. It is one of the things that we have in common, public speaking. Since tomorrow is Memorial Day, I thought I would share the speech I gave. So, here it is:

"We are all here today to remember those who bravely sacrificed themselves for our freedom. They were all loved by someone and some of them were loved by us, in this room. I personally have not lost someone close to me, fortunately my father came back while he was in the Marines. But there are many other children around America who have lost a mother or a father, and they will never forget all of the wonderful moments they have had with them. And they will not get any more of those moments with them. Because that is the price we pay for freedom, and safety. I honestly think that many Americans take that for granted.  They take freedom and safety for granted. Many do not realize how many lives have been affected just so they can safely walk down the streets in America. But this is why we have days like today, a Memorial Day to not only remember the countless Americans who have died for our freedom but to be reminded of those young men and women who fought and died for OUR freedom... To be reminded that they were Americans just like all of us, who fought and died in some foreign land.

A few years ago I spoke at Lakeview’s Veterans Day program, I also talked about how we take things for granted and that instead of one day, Veterans Day, we should thank Veterans every day or whenever we get the chance to. I bring this up because after I was asked to speak for today, I was mind boggled by the vast differences between the two days. Veterans Day is to thank those who came back, those who fought and survived to come back and live the rest of their lives with their loved ones. And Memorial Day is to remember those who didn’t, for me it was hard because I haven’t lost anyone but I have seen it. I have seen it in the eyes of the survivors, and family members. I have seen the loss. And I see it every year when I come here to this Memorial Service.

I want to leave you with a quote from the former President Ronald Reagan said “The price for this freedom at times has been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay that price. Those who say that we are in a time with no heroes…they just don’t know where to look. The sloping hills of Arlington National Cemetery, with its row upon row of simply white markers bearing crosses or stars David, they add up to only a tiny fraction of the price that has been paid for our freedom.”"