Rep's Corner

On Memorial Day, we are reminded to reflect and find some meaningful way to give expression to the powerful emotions we feel when we think of the brave men and women who gave service to their country, and paid the ultimate price to preserve freedom for all.

It is a time when we show our soldiers that we believe in what they did. We commend them for their participation in danger for democracy. We acknowledge that we have not forgotten their efforts to ensure our freedom. Today, we offer them our gratitude.

The celebration of Memorial Day began shortly after the end of the Civil War. In 1868, several southern women decorated the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers with fresh flowers. General John A. Logan, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, was so touched by the actions of these women, he moved to instate similar observances on May 31, 1869.

As Woodrow Wilson said in his 1915 Memorial Day address: “The Civil War created in this country what had never existed before a national consciousness. It was not the salvation of the Union, it was the rebirth of the Union.”

During this holiday, all across America, people will join together to honor those who fought and died in wars on our land and on the soil of nations across the ocean. Not only do we think of the familiar names of war heroes like George Washington, Robert E. Lee and Dwight Eisenhower; we also think of those we once knew. Many Americans today know someone who was killed in action. They were a grandparent, a father or a mother, a brother or a sister, a friend or a relative or someone who lived next door.

From the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War, Americans have been willing to put their lives in jeopardy for freedom. They fought for an ideal that they valued more than life itself - knowing full well they may not survive long enough to know if they had been victorious. Whoever that person may be, it is also their sacrifice that we remember. Since 1868, more than one million brave men and women have given their lives in the defense of our country or to remove tyranny that plagues other nations.

Today, I join with you in remembering the brave men and women who have given their lives for our country. We remember and we are grateful to those brave soldiers whose sacrifices helped pave the way for us to live in a country that is strong and free. We celebrate their patriotism and their memory. We recognize their sacrifice, take pride in their accomplishments and keep their noble memories alive. We also remember the families of our fallen heroes, and we grieve for their losses.

General George S. Patton once said, “Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who followed and of the men who lead, that gain the victory.”

Each day, especially on Memorial Day, let us remember and give thanks for their courage as we honor the memory of each soldier dedicated to the upholding of peace and freedom. The very same peace and freedom we enjoy each day of our lives.


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© Copyright 2008 State Representative Lynn Olman. All rights reserved.