Honor and Patriotism on Memorial Day

By Congressman Jeff Miller

Memorial Day is a time to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation.

Regardless of our feelings about the War on Terror, we owe it to ourselves to not lose faith, and instead to renew our sense of honor and patriotism on this Memorial Day. Too often I hear of people using the tragedies of our courageous service members as leverage to protest the ongoing war. However, when I think back to September 11, 2001, I believe every American citizen must have felt the same pride, honor, and pure patriotism for our great nation as we stood together to defend our homeland. We all felt the chills run down our spine when we heard The Star Spangled Banner and Irving Berlin's God Bless America. We all wore patriotic shirts, waived flags, and hung banners outside our homes, businesses and automobiles. After nearly six years since that tragic day, this strength and patriotism has faded. Why?

We should respectfully honor those who have risked their lives for the sake of America through its times of war and struggle. Each of us should let the feelings of appreciation, support, love and prayers show for our brave men and women who are now defending our freedom throughout the world. Over the years, Memorial Day has come to serve as a day to remember all U.S. men and women killed or missing in action in all wars. Let us not forget the brave service members who stood up against tyranny and oppression, and selflessly gave their freedom so others may have it.

Following the Civil War, Major General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic declared this occasion in General Orders No. 11, "as a day for strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, or hamlet churchyard in the land... let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan."

As long as there are wars, there will be veterans and casualties. We must always respect the honor and service of those who come home and those who do not. While we should honor our dedicated service members each day, on this special day, we not only have an opportunity, but also a responsibility to express the special places we have in our hearts honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Every Memorial Day we gather at places to grasp the extent of their loss and the meaning of the sacrifice. I always find it difficult and inadequate when I try to find the words to express that meaning. In the end, all we can do is be thankful; all we can do is remember, and always appreciate the price that was paid for our own lives and our own freedom. We live it every day in the comforts of peace and the gifts of freedom. These have all been purchased for us, and we are grateful for the sacrifice.

As you remember and give thanks on this Memorial Day weekend, honor all those who fell from the line -- who left us never knowing how much they would be missed. We pray for them with a sincerity that grows deeper with the years. And we remember them -- all of them -- with the love of a grateful nation.

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