My fellow Legionnaires, families, and friends. I thank you for taking a moment to reflect with me on this special Memorial Day weekend. We are united not just to mark a day on the calendar, but to fulfill a sacred promise. We are here to remember, to honor, and to express our deepest gratitude to the men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion.
I will soon be out with several hundred youth, those we so carefully teach and prepare to become our nation’s next generation of leaders. We will be visiting a cemetery where we’ll place over 2,000 flags on the resting places of those who served this great nation, making it the land of freedom they now call home.
Behind every flag we place, and every grave we visit, is a profound human story. These were mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. They had dreams, careers, and loved ones waiting for them back home. But when the call of duty sounded, they stepped forward to bear the sword of freedom, and with the solemn sentiment, proclaimed: “Here I am, send me.” They did so knowing the ultimate cost, yet their courage never wavered.
They fought in the mud of distant battlefields, in the skies above foreign shores, and across perilous seas. Whether they fell in the heat of combat or succumbed to the scars of war, they all share a common bond. They paid the price for the liberties many today often take for granted today.
It is so very easy to let Memorial Day become just the kickoff to summer, a long weekend of barbecues and ball games. But as members of the American Legion, it is our sacred responsibility to be the guardians of their memory. We must ensure that the wounds of neglect and the ravages of time do not erase the sacrifices of the past.
But remembering is only the first step. Our true duty to our fallen comrades is how we live our lives today. They sacrificed everything so that we might live in peace and freedom. The best way to honor their legacy is to be responsible citizens in a free society. It means engaging in our communities, protecting the principles of justice and democracy, and taking care of the families and veterans left behind. It means tolerance of shortfalls of friends and family, especially fellow Legionnaires who simply try to do their best.
As you go about your weekend, find the place and take a quiet moment to reflect. Teach your children and grandchildren the price of the flag we fly. Tell them the stories of our heroes, many of whom were personal friends we fought with side by side. Make sure their names are never lost to history.
Let us renew our commitment to the values they fought for—duty, honor, and country.
May God bless our fallen heroes, may He bring comfort to their families, and may we BE THE ONE, and yes, and with all commitment declare: “I’m the ONE, who’ll serve as His hands here on earth to ensure the blessings are fulfilled. May we BE the ONE to ensure their memories live on.
Thank you, my fellow Legionnaires. May God bless you and your families this Memorial Day weekend, and may God bless the United States of America.
