Key Takeaway

• Remember to give gratitude for freedom this Memorial Day.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who have served, those who continue to serve—and those we’ve lost.

I would like to take a moment to honor these brave individuals. Your courage, commitment, and ultimate sacrifice allow us to live in freedom. There is no greater gift. For this reason, this gift, today we honor you.

“Remember those who served before. Remember those who are no more. Remember those who serve today. Remember them as we eat and play.”
— Emily Toma

Deepest Gratitude to Military Families

To the families of these heroes—thank you. It’s important to realize that your quiet strength and unwavering support make every act of service possible. It’s because of you that they can serve our country. Memorial Day is a solemn reminder that freedom is never free. It’s built on the sacrifices of real people and the loved ones they leave behind.

“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
— General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.

Memorial Day is To Remember The Sacrifices We Cannot Forget

Every deployment means missed birthdays, anniversaries, first steps, graduations, and even funerals. Many of our service members return home changed—physically, emotionally, spiritually. The weight they carry doesn’t just rest on their shoulders, but on their families’ as well.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”
— Maya Angelou

What these men, women, and their families endure is often unimaginable. And yet, they do it—for us, for their country. Their resilience and service deserve more than one day of remembrance—they deserve our ongoing respect and gratitude.

“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.
They have earned our undying gratitude.”
— President Harry S. Truman

Make Gratitude a Daily Practice

Memorial Day is a time to reflect, but also a time to be grateful. Gratitude is more than a feeling—it’s a practice. It’s a choice to notice what you have, honor who gave it to you, and live in a way that reflects that appreciation. Above all, gratitude is a key to living well.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation
is not to utter words but to live by them.”
— President John F. Kennedy

Simple actions—like thanking a veteran, showing kindness to a neighbor, or volunteering in your community—can be acts of remembrance. The more we appreciate, the more we connect to the meaning of this day and to each other. After all, isn’t that what life is all about? Helping others.

In Honor and Remembrance on Memorial Day

To every veteran, active duty service member, and military families: Thank you for your service, your strength, and your unseen sacrifices. You are deeply appreciated today and always. And that you must be remembered.

“That I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me.”
— Lee Greenwood

May we never forget and always remember. Above all, thank you for your service!