By Congressman Tom Cole
Since the founding of our great nation, brave men and women have selflessly chosen to answer the call to serve in our Armed Forces. Now, because of their bravery and sacrifices, we wake up in a safe and secure country with freedoms and rights that are coveted by people all around the world.
As the son of an Air Force veteran, I know about these vast sacrifices our service members make firsthand. They will miss holidays, weddings, funerals, the birth of their own children – and sadly, some will make the ultimate sacrifice.
Today, on Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who unfortunately did make that ultimate sacrifice. This is a day of both mourning and gratitude. It is a day to acknowledge just how high the cost of our freedom is – something we often forget or take for granted.
As Americans, we can never really do enough to repay those who gave their last full measure of devotion to our country. We are so indebted to these heroes, and it is truly a debt we cannot repay.
However, today, at the very least, we can remember. So, please join me in celebrating and honoring the lives of our dedicated United States’ military personnel who have passed away while serving our great nation. They lived and died for our country – and that is something worthy of all our respect and appreciation.
