President Abraham Lincoln once wrote a letter to a mother who had lost five sons in one battle. In it, he talked about “the solemn pride [she] must feel for having laid so costly a sacrifice on the altar of freedom.” Memorial Day is a time when we reflect on the cost of freedom; a time to remember. Now more than ever, it is time to remember. It is a time to remember the gratitude we owe those who laid down their lives for our freedom. To keep their flames alive by preserving the ideals for which they so valiantly fought. We live in a nation that enjoys unprecedented peace and prosperity because of the courage and skill of America’s fighting men and women. But while we enjoy the benefits of living in the greatest democracy in the world, we must be ever conscious of the fact that none of the achievements or freedoms enjoyed in America would be without the risks taken by those soldiers. I have often wondered what motivates someone to give so much to this country, and have come to realize that it is freedom. We live in a country that leads the modern world. Throughout history we have been led by outstanding people who have made this country what it is today. Industrial, spiritual and political leaders stand on the shoulders of those who sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of the freedom that allows those leaders to come forward. Those men and women who are defending our freedom and the safety of our homeland today will be known as the next greatest generation. This Memorial Day weekend, we dedicate the new World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. One of my first votes in Congress was to stop the debate on the design and location of this memorial so it could be completed while the Greatest Generation was still alive. I was moved by my tour of this new grand memorial, which honors those who helped in the war effort at home or abroad. They deserve our undying appreciation. We can all take part in Memorial Day by taking a moment of silence, a trip to a cemetery or by wearing a poppy. On this day, we speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us. As we go forward, we cannot forget those who have gone before us to make democracy possible.
