This is a weekend of remembrance. We remember those who have paid the
ultimate price to support and defend our freedom: freedom to worship, freedom
to speak, freedom to come and go.
Since our nation’s founding, 1,321,612 American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have paid the ultimate price. Another 1,531.036 have
been wounded and another 38,159 missing.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to all those generations who have passed
the Torch of Liberty to succeeding generations. And we owe a debt to the fallen
that can never be repaid.
George S. Patton said, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”
On Wednesday, some of the staff went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We
had the unexpected honor to witness a sentinel’s last walk at the tomb. It
was an incredible moment which reminded me of how proud I am to be an American.
Memorial day is a day to say, “We will not forget.” “We honor their lives.”