What Memorial Day Means to Me
Memorial Day arrives in the hushed stillness before dawn, when every face I carry in my heart steps forward—comrades with whom I stood shoulder-to-shoulder in distant sandstorms; troops I helped train through long, grueling nights; families whose tears I shared as they whispered their final farewells. In that sacred quiet, the unspoken stories rise up, echoing off the marble walls of our national cemeteries and the modest monuments in every small town. Each name etched in stone is a powerful reminder that freedom carries the highest price—and that it is our duty to remember and honor that sacrifice.
Having worn both the green fatigues of the Army and the dress blues of the Marine Corps, I know all too well the weight of loss. Yet Memorial Day is more than a day of grief—it is our annual call to action. The observation and tribute to sacrifice challenges us to bridge the divisions those men and women gave everything to mend. We must serve one another and safeguard the liberties at home which they defended with their last breath on foreign soil.
When we lower the flag to half-staff on this day, I feel a profound responsibility. Sacrifice is not a remote statistic, but a tangible pain that reverberates through every town, in every neighbor's loss, and in the hearts of grieving families whose lives are forever changed. But also, to honor the fallen, one must uplift the living, ensuring that veterans receive the care they’ve earned, wrapping Gold Star families in the community’s embrace, standing beside those in uniform as they continue to protect our way of life.
So I invite all of us to turn a moment’s reflection into ongoing action across our entire community.; Volunteer at the local community center. Coach a youth sports team. Mentor a student. Lend a hand at food banks and shelter programs. Plant trees in our parks. Help clean up our streets.Or support after-school initiatives that give our children a safe place to learn and grow. By serving our neighbors—both veterans and non-veterans —we honor every sacrifice made for our freedom,and we strengthen the bonds that hold us together.
Let Memorial Day be more than a moment of remembrance—let it spark a year-round spirit of community service truly worthy of the sacrifices made by so few for the good of us all.
God Speed
Troy Haley
