05/24/2026
From the Thin Red Line to the Thin Blue Line...
Memorial Day began after the Civil War as a day of remembrance — a day when families and communities placed flowers on the graves of those who gave their lives in service to our nation. It was never intended to simply mark the beginning of summer; it was created to ensure sacrifice would never be forgotten.
Today we honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while wearing our nation's uniform. We also remember the families who carried that sacrifice long after the final salute was given.
We remember the mothers who raised sons and daughters of courage, only to bear a grief no parent should ever know. We remember the wives, husbands, children, brothers, sisters, and loved ones whose lives were forever changed. Their sacrifice did not end on a battlefield — they continue to carry it every day.
And while Memorial Day's roots are grounded in honoring our fallen military heroes, we also pause to remember those who gave their lives protecting our communities here at home — the police officers and first responders who left for duty and never returned.
From the Thin Red Line to the Thin Blue Line, today we remember those who stood between danger and others.
May we never become so busy with life that we forget the lives that were given so we could live it freely.
