Today, we present the fifth installment of our weeklong tribute to the men and women who proudly serve this country. This Memorial Day reflection comes to us from Representative Richard Bastien:One of the earliest memories I recall is observing a Memorial Day Parade with my family and hundreds of others when I was about four years old. Even though I did not then realize all of its significance, I knew that it was a special day, a day for us to take a moment from the rush of our ordinary lives and remember those who served our country.
Memorial Day is a time of reflection, a day when we pause to reflect on those no longer with us, whose valor enables us to enjoy the freedoms we cherish today. We honor their sacrifice in defending our values and take this opportunity to thank them for what they died to defend.
That four year old grew up to be a sailor in the United States Navy as well. I was proud to serve our nation then, and now as a member of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. I have the opportunity to help our returning veterans and their families receive the support they need in order to readjust and integrate back into civilian life. Our nations veterans ask for so little, this weekend let us honor them and their service.
This Memorial Day, in between our cookouts and gatherings, I hope we all take a moment to pause in appreciation that everything we hold dear is because someone stood up to defend it. We sleep safe in our beds because someone else was willing to stand in the cold night in a foreign land on watch. We may never repay those that have sacrificed so much, but let us endeavor to do our best, for it is by the courage that they displayed, that we are able to enjoy our freedoms this weekend.
