Memorial Day 2009

On Memorial Day, we each pause to remember the principles that make America what it is today, to remember the high cost of our hard-won freedom, and to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our way of life.

The brave men and women we honor today willingly defended the ideals we all so cherish: The rights of the people to determine our own futures, free of oppression and fear. It is because of these everyday heroes that we celebrate Memorial Day, commemorating the selflessness and sacrifice of those upon whose very lives rests the foundation of freedom.

Originally called Decoration Day in the years following the Civil War, townspeople and war widows would decorate the graves of our fallen heroes in recognition of their monumental sacrifices. Over the years, this tradition has evolved into the stoic holiday we observe each May, honoring those who have given their lives in service to this great nation.

The brave men and women of our Armed Forces who we remember today are individuals who answered the call of service in the nation’s hour of need, preserving our nation’s cherished freedoms for their posterity. Each of us should be honored to live in a country so bravely defended, and it is our duty to uphold their legacy with respect, reverence and heartfelt gratitude.

As we enter the eighth year of the Global War on Terrorism, it has become increasingly important to address the needs of our newest generation of veterans and their families. These newest members of our military family have been called upon to be a part of a daunting war challenging the very fabric of a free society, and they have met it with unparalleled courage and valor in the face of great adversity.

Though, today, we honor the more than 4,900 brave men and women who have perished in this latest conflict, and the Gold Star families they have left behind, we must never forget the 2.5 million 21st century veterans who have returned to the battlefield. It is our duty as leaders within the veterans’ community to ensure that these men and women are afforded the honors and benefits they have so valiantly earned.

Over the last decade, the will of our nation has been tested by challenges that would bring lesser states to the brink. However, as Americans of generations past have proven, our resolve cannot be broken. When push comes to shove, our American spirit cannot be broken, and we will continue to prosper in the name of Liberty.

Today, we recount the battles and we pay silent and public tribute to those who stepped well beyond the lines of fear, doubt and self-preservation to give us the security and prosperity which we all cherish.

During his famous address at Gettysburg in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stated, “That from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

May we never forget those have fought for our freedom, and may we quietly celebrate the lives of those who have truly made America the land of the free and the home of the brave.