Friends,
As we celebrate Memorial Day, in a time of social distancing, it is more important than ever to recognize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our right to live in freedom.
Each generation is called upon to fight for freedom in its own time. We have that duty today as has always been the case.
“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, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
– President Ronald W. Reagan
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was founded in Waterloo, New York, now known as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. It is a solemn time to pause and pay our respect to those that, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “gave their last full measure of devotion.” It will never be a thing of the past or a quaint exercise to stop and meditate on the sacrifices of those who have died in the service of this American Experiment.
We all should enjoy our Memorial Day weekend. This is one of the freedoms that is bequeathed to us by the dedication of women and men who laid down their lives for us to enjoy the blessings of freedom. As we enjoy our celebrations, let us take a moment to remember and thank those patriots who have paid for our ability to do so with their light and lives.
CDR Sergio Villaverde, USCGR (ret)
