Letter: Memorial Day remembrance

“But we… shall be remembered:  we few, we happy few, we band of Brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother…” — William Shakespeare.

Memorial Day is a sacred day for some of us who have taken the military oath and agreed to stand in harm’s way if need be to defend our way of life. Some of us get to return from our combat tours and sadly some of us do not. We who return celebrate each other, and that we are still alive. We also celebrate the lives of the ones we've lost.

On this Memorial Day, some of us will honor those who gave their last full measure of devotion so that our country remains free. Others will take advantage of furniture, automobile, or other sales…For some others, it signals the beginning of summer and calls for a good day to barbecue.

Today, we honor our heroes, remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to say thank you for their sacrifices. The heroes we honor today came from all walks of life, but they shared several fundamental qualities. They possessed courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity.

They didn't go to war because they loved fighting, they were called to be part of something bigger than themselves. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. They rose to our nation’s call because they wanted to protect it, which had given them and us so much.

Whatever their personal motives might have been, they said, “I'll go.” That is why they are the best of America and that separates them from those who’ve not served in uniform. They showed admirable willingness to risk their lives for people they never met.

As we commemorate Memorial Day 2026, let us never forget the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service to our country, and let us strive to be worthy of their legacy.

“We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders field.”

— John McCrae In Flanders Fields, 1915

Michael A LeMay

Homer