By Congressman Markwayne Mullin
Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer for Oklahomans. Many celebrate with cookouts, trips to the lake or river, and time spent with loved ones. While we are celebrating, we must not forget the true reason for Memorial Day and the families who have lost loved ones.
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance in which we reflect and pay our deepest respects to the fallen heroes who have given their life in sacrifice to our great nation. There is no more noble cause than risking your life to defend the people and the virtues that you hold dear.
We must never forget that we are the land of the free, because of the brave. The bravest among us are the men and women who wear the uniforms of our armed forces every day and never waiver in their fight against the people and groups who threaten our way of life.
President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” The United States continues to be a beacon of freedom, hope, and democracy in the world because of the selfless service and sacrifice of our nation’s service men and women.
As we commemorate this Memorial Day, I ask that you join me in setting aside time to remember the men and women who given their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we have as Americans. We owe a debt of gratitude we can never repay, and it is our duty as Americans to honor the fallen, as well as give honor and respect to the families who have experienced unimaginable hurt.
I encourage you to reach out to these families of fallen service members in your community and to thank them for their tremendous sacrifice, and to hear the stories of service from those they love. May God bless our fallen heroes, and may God bless the United States of America.
