By Gavin Boyle
As we honor those who died to protect our country this Memorial Day, here are five quotes that encapsulate what this holiday is all about.
“We must never forget why we have and why we need our military. Our armed forces exist solely to ensure our nation is safe, so that each and every one of us can sleep soundly at night, knowing we have ‘guardians at the gate,’” Allen West, a retired military officer, said.
This is especially true given the current state of global events as unrest in Europe and Asia threatens the peace of mind of billions of people, yet as Americans, we do not have to fear any attacks on our soil.
“Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay,” said former president Barack Obama.
This reminder is forever true and speaks to the fact that the freedom of our country is paid for every day by those who risk their lives and the ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. As many in the media demonize our nation’s past and paint the military as the bad guys, it is especially encouraging for a political leader with great influence to remind the population just how much we owe the heroes of the past.
“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them,” said America’s 32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt.
This quote rings true today as so many of America’s problems revolve around topics that are less important than people think. As our country faces criticism from both sides of the aisle, we often overlook just how good we have it here, with most people never having to worry about basic survival needs, like food, water and shelter. Because of this, most Americans have forgotten that these needs are not guaranteed, and it is only because of the sacrifices of hundreds of years of veterans that we enjoy our current prosperity.
“Our freedom. The freedom to do as we can, if we just dream about it, that has been bought and paid for. Because not everybody is free in this world…” FORREST GUMP and veterans advocate Gary Sinise said. “Everyday people just went off to serve their country and bad things happened to them. Memorial Day honors them. It honors their families.”
While hitting on many of the previous themes, Sinise also points out how the men and women who serve our country are everyday people who decide to answer the call. When remembering our veterans on Memorial Day, we should recall that those who died for our country are fathers, sons and brothers, and their sacrifice does not just impact them but their families and communities as well.
“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened,” said evangelist Billy Graham.
As we take the time to honor our fallen soldiers and consider the sacrifices they made for our country, we should allow their work to inspire us to great works as well.
America is a great country, and we should enjoy our freedoms to their fullest, rather than becoming complacent and thinking that our freedoms came without a price.
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