As an Army veteran, the meaning of Memorial Day is never lost on me.

I risked my life in combat, flying Apache helicopters over Baghdad, for our shared values and freedom as Americans. I was lucky to make it home. Today, we honor my brothers and sisters-in-arms who didn't.

I know many folks spend most of the day at parades, cookouts, and generally enjoying the start of summer. And we should!

But it can also be lonely for veterans and families of service members. The celebrations today are such a stark contrast with what we see on the battlefield and the pain of losing a battle buddy. So I encourage you to take just a moment today and reach out – even a simple "thinking of you today" means a lot.

And please, today and every day, pressure your members of Congress to fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs (sadly, Brian Fitzpatrick voted to cut their budget by 22%). It's critical that veterans can access care when we get home, whether it's mental health treatment or disability benefits. It can be the difference between life and death for some of us.

Thanks for having service members' backs and have a meaningful Memorial Day,

Ashley 🚁