WE STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS · Living Strong Community

WE STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS

This Memorial Day morning, before diving into the day, I made a cup of coffee, sat quietly, and watched the National Memorial Day Concert that aired last night from our nation's capital.

As I listened to the stories of sacrifice, courage, service, and loss spanning 250 years of American history, I found myself reflecting on something we often hear but perhaps don't stop long enough to fully appreciate:

Freedom is not free.

Throughout the program, stories were shared from the Revolutionary War, Pearl Harbor, Korea, Vietnam, September 11th, and the generations of Americans who answered the call to serve their country.

Different times.

Different battles.

Different generations.

Yet the same willingness to step forward when their nation needed them.

Many never came home.

And because of that, we have the freedoms we enjoy today.

One statement from Marine veteran and musician Jamey Johnson stayed with me:

"If you're an American, somebody died for your right to even say you're an American."

That simple statement carries tremendous weight.

Every freedom we enjoy today—the freedom to speak our minds, worship according to our beliefs, pursue our dreams, raise our families, and live our lives according to our values—exists because someone before us was willing to stand watch, serve, sacrifice, and in many cases, give everything.

Another story that deeply moved me was that of Pearl Harbor survivor Chuck Kohler.

As a 17-year-old sailor, he experienced firsthand the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Decades later, while visiting the USS Arizona Memorial, he reflected on the men who lost their lives that day and made a promise that their sacrifice would never be forgotten.

His words captured the spirit of Memorial Day better than anything I could write:

"I stand on their shoulders. We stand on their shoulders. All of us. Every American."

Today, I find myself thinking about those shoulders.

The shoulders of the young soldier who never came home.

The shoulders of the sailor lost at sea.

The shoulders of the airman who never returned from a mission.

The shoulders of the Marine who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The shoulders of the countless men and women who answered the call of duty throughout our nation's history and gave their lives so that future generations could experience freedoms they themselves might never enjoy.

I also think about the families.

The parents.

The spouses.

The children.

The brothers and sisters.

The Gold Star families whose sacrifice continues long after the final salute.

Today is their day of remembrance as well.

Today, I simply want to say thank you.

Thank you to those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Thank you to the families who carry their memory forward.

Thank you for the freedoms that so many of us often take for granted.

And thank you for the reminder that freedom has always required courage, sacrifice, and service from ordinary Americans willing to do extraordinary things.

Today, we remember.

Today, we honor.

Today, we give thanks.

We stand on their shoulders.

All of us.

Every American.

2 comments