As I explored the significance of Memorial Day 2025, I envisioned a message that would resonate within your hearts and minds. My initial Google search for “Memorial Day 2025” yielded an excess of advertisements for sales—appliances, furniture, and automobiles. While these items may be essential, I can assert with unwavering conviction that they do not embody the true essence of Memorial Day. Words alone may fall short in capturing the profound meaning of this solemn occasion. My words would be feeble at best in conveying what Memorial Day means. So, I turn the platform over to a distinguished President, Ronald Reagan. Below, I present excerpts from a few of his speeches in 1985 and 1986 delivered at Arlington National Cemetery.1985 - It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember. 1986 - “Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember. “Here in Arlington rests a sharecropper's son who became a hero to a lonely people. Joe Louis came from nowhere, but he knew how to fight. And he galvanized a nation in the days after Pearl Harbor when he put on the uniform of his country and said, 'I know we'll win because we're on God's side.' Audie Murphy is here, Audie Murphy of the wild, wild courage. For what else would you call it when a man bounds to the top of a disabled tank, stops an enemy advance, saves lives, and rallies his men, and all of it single-handedly. When he radioed for artillery support and was asked how close the enemy was to his position, he said, 'Wait a minute and I'll let you speak to them.' [Laughter] “All of these men were different, but they shared this in common: They loved America very much. There was nothing they wouldn't do for her. And they loved with the sureness of the young. It's hard not to think of the young in a place like this, for it's the young who do the fighting and dying when a peace fails and a war begins. “And we owe them something. We owe them first a promise: That just as they did not forget their missing comrades, neither, ever, will we. And there are other promises. We must always remember that peace is a fragile thing that needs constant vigilance. We owe them a promise to look at the world with a steady gaze and, perhaps, a resigned toughness, knowing that we have adversaries in the world and challenges and the only way to meet them and maintain the peace is by staying strong.I would be remiss in leaving out Gen. Lucian Truscott, commander of the U.S. Fifth Army, who spoke at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy on Memorial Day in 1945. He turned his back on the audience, and spoke directly to the nearly 20,000 American soldiers buried there, apologizing to them for their deaths. On Memorial Day, countless Americans grapple with the profound task of honoring sacrifices they have never personally witnessed. It is all too easy to combine this solemn day with other public displays of gratitude for those who have donned the uniform. Yet, Memorial Day stands apart, steeped in a deeper significance. I find myself in this heart-rending struggle. I have not lost close friends or comrades in the crucible of combat. My journey to extract personal meaning from Memorial Day mirrors that of many others: I strive to transform an experience I have only encountered through the eyes of my son and nephew into something tangible and real. This endeavor leaves me acutely aware of the limitations of my own experience. I am painfully conscious of the gulf that separates my understanding from the raw pride, heartache, love, and guilt that envelop those who have been intimately touched by loss in these wars. As I reflect on their sacrifices, I am reminded that true understanding requires more than mere observation; it demands a depth of feeling that I can only aspire to grasp. While we may not all share the same views on political, social, and military agendas, that is not only acceptable but also a testament to the rich diversity and character of our nation. Memorial Day presents us with a profound opportunity to transcend our differences and unite in remembrance. Our true greatness does not reside in the actions of our politicians; rather, it lies in the collective spirit of the people who make up the United States of America—each and every one of us. Let us honor this day by embracing our shared humanity and celebrating the bonds that connect us all. Before you start your time of celebration this weekend, please join with me for a minute of prayer or meditation in thanks for the men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy. And don’t forget to say thanks to a vet! Have a safe and pleasant Memorial Day holiday. Remember them, and enjoy your holiday time, because they would want you to.Take Care,Mark
