A more solemn day of remembrance is not found on our Nation's calendar. While Veteran's Day celebrates and honors all living former military service men and women, Memorial Day commands us to say a prayer for all those brave men and women who aren't here to accept the thanks of a grateful people.
From Lexington and Concord, across Bull Run, New Market, Vicksburg and Gettysburg to Bataan and Corregidor, Normandy, Pork Chop Hill, to Pleiku and Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, the list of bloody battles and countries where American citizen soldiers gave their last full measure of devotion to our Country covers the globe with their fortitude. These few fought ever so bravely in defense of two uniquely American ideals that we have at the very core of our national experience - freedom and opportunity for all.
America's social compact - liberty and a better life for each succeeding generation - makes the ultimate sacrifice of our greatest patriots not in vain, and thus willingly given. Here's why they died:
* FREEDOM of expression, thought, belief and deed, so don't tread on me or my religious, atheist, libertarian or all other non-conformist personal pursuits;
* OPPORTUNITY to achieve my individual vision of success and prosperity for my family. So long as a person works hard and abides the rules, the absence of an aristocracy guarantees him/her a path to great achievements.
These two American bedrock principles gave more than two Centuries of Americans the certain knowledge that their sacrifice would help secure a more perfect Union, one so exceptional that it had never been duplicated (and most probably never will) in any of the scores of countries they liberated as such high cost in lives and treasure. Therefore, I cry out in pain on hearing anyone proclaim that: "the system, the economy, the path to success is rigged against everyday Americans, that the middle class is held down by an oligarchy of one percenters, in fact, that life in America is defined by rigid oppression and class bigotry".
That lie is so grossly UnAmerican; indeed, it is so unjust as to deny the tens of thousands in Arlington and our other national cemeteries the peace, respect and dignity that they deserve today, Memorial Day, and every other day on our calendars.
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