Washington, DC -  “The sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them. Yet, we must try to honor them -- not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice.”  President Ronald Reagan spoke these eloquent words at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day in 1981.

 

Memorial Day was first established in 1868, to remember those who lost their lives in the Civil War. Over the years, however, it has come to serve as a time to remember all American men and women who have fallen in defense of freedom.

 

This year, as we move from the battle phase to the rebuilding phase in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Memorial Day is especially poignant. Many of us know of loved ones who have been abroad and are returning home.  Still others, like the men and women in our local National Guard are now aiding in the rebuilding effort overseas. 

 

Wherever those we care about may be, this Memorial Day we have a unique opportunity to show our love and appreciation for these men and women and for the freedom they have secured for us – through our actions.  In Sikeston, many of our local teens will visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.  Other communities, including Rolla, also will hold events to commemorate the day. Whatever activities you may have planned, we can all show our appreciation and support for those who are gone and those who serve today by flying the US Flag, flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' or simply by participating in the Moment of Remembrance (Moment).

 

As in years past, the National Moment of Remembrance will be held on Monday, May 26, 2003 at 3:00 p.m. local time (duration: one minute). The time was chosen because it is the time when many Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment is intended to be a unifying act of remembrance for Americans of all ages. It is a special time for all of us, wherever we are and whatever  we might be doing, to remember those who sacrificed for our freedom. Most of all, it is a moment to reclaim Memorial Day for the noble and sacred reason for which it was intended—to honor those who died in service to our Nation while celebrating what it means to be an American.

 

As we commemorate this American holiday together, Congress is working to honor the brave and steadfast men and women in uniform who defend our freedom. This week, our House Judiciary Committee passed legislation protecting the American flag. This legislation recognizes that desecration of the flag is deplorable and that the flag is a representation of the basic principles and values for which America stands. The bill is similar to a Constitutional Amendment I introduced prohibiting desecration of Old Glory. We have successfully passed this legislation in the House before, and I am hopeful that this year it will pass again and move onto the Senate for further action. It is an important step toward preserving our most sacred symbol of freedom and teaching future generations to do the same.

 

Inscribed at the base of the Korean War Memorial are the words “Freedom is never free.”  Today, as we confront terrorism, elevated terror alerts and daily threats to our country and her people, those words hold more truth than ever.  But joining together to celebrate freedom as well as working to preserve and defend freedom are ways we can pay tribute to those we remember on Memorial Day.  After all, as President Reagan said so long ago “No arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."