Commentary: Remember, honor sacrifices made for America's freedom

  • Published
  • By Terry G. Edwards
  • Director, Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment
SAN ANTONIO, Texas --  Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May each year, is a day for us to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

It's a day where flags are flown at half-staff until noon and flags, flowers and wreaths are placed on graves across the country in honor of the millions of patriots who perished while preserving our freedom.

A newer tradition that began in 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance, asks that all Americans observe a moment of silence or listen to Taps - pausing from whatever they are doing - at 3 p.m. local time.

While the observance of a day dedicated to the memory of deceased service members dates back to 1868 after the Civil War, Congress first declared a Memorial Day federal holiday in 1971.
 
That year, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the holiday and aptly stated, "We cannot dismiss with easy platitude the debt which the deaths of our countrymen lays upon us. And while the declaration of noble sentiments, the placing of flowers and the shedding of tears of remembrance can pay deserved tribute to their sacrifice, these by themselves cannot redeem those sacrifices.

"So let us bear witness to the plain truth that we can only insure that our soldiers and sailors and marines and airmen have not died in vain by resolving, as citizens of the land for which they died, that we ourselves shall not live in vain. That out of war has come redemption, and out of the search for redemption has come a true and just and lasting peace."

No matter where you are or what you are doing Monday, whether at 3 p.m. or some other time of the day, I encourage you to take those words to heart and to remember and honor the sacrifices made for America's freedom.

We formed our nation with the blood of our forebears who gained our independence 236 years ago, and we have maintained our sovereignty ever since with a strong military dedicated to preserving our national security. Let us not live in vain and let us take pride in honoring our fellow Americans who granted us the liberty we enjoy today!