Memorial Day Reflections—Honoring the Fallen and Embracing Our Heritage

photo credit: richwashburn.com

Memorial Day arrives every year like a solemn wave, calling us to pause and remember. As a Marine Corps veteran from the Puget Sound, I’ve seen first­-hand the brotherhood forged at sea—and on land—inservice. Our fighting fathers were often deeply religious, bound by faith as much as by duty. They believed wholeheartedly that this nation, under God, was worth defending.

On this day, we honor not only those who came home but especially those who never did. “Some gave some, some gave all.” Their sacrifice echoes through every star on our flag and through every moment of silence we observe. It’s a reminder that freedom—our freedom to speak, to choose our careers, to chase dreams—is neither guaranteed nor free.

Statistics tell part of the story: as of late 2023, only about 66,000 World War II veterans remain, and just under a million Korean War veterans. Each number represents a life of service, each veteran a repository of history. They carried more than rifles—they carried hope, faith, and the promise that a government “of the people, by the people, for the people” would endure.

Yet today, our schools risk turning future generations into guests in a country they don’t fully understand—a place where the cost of liberty is a forgotten footnote. If young Americans don’t learn why Memorial Day exists, they won’t realize what it means to live in a free country: a land where we are not forced to eat fish heads and rice sauerkraut under an oppressive regime, but where we choose our paths, our words, and our faith.

So this Memorial Day, let us teach and remember. Gather your family, share the stories of vets you know, volunteer at a local cemetery cleanup, or simply bow your head in gratitude. Embrace the lessons of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Because when we honor our fallen, we keep their spirit alive—and we ensure that “one nation under God” remains a beacon of true freedom for generations to come.