John,

On this Memorial Day we remember the men and women who have given their lives for our rights, freedom, liberty and democracy – those who have given the last full measure of devotion to ensure that the federal republic would endure for our posterity.

To honor their sacrifice, we must contemplate the responsibility that each and every one of us has to participate in our democracy and ensure their legacy of selfless sacrifice is not wasted.

We owe that to every child of a fallen soldier, sailor, Airman, Coast Guardsman, and Marine.

Our responsibility is to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain. That the federal republic they died to defend is not dismantled by the rise of an evil tyrant from within.

I have lost Marines and friends that have made this ultimate sacrifice and seen the last moments of life leave the eyes of the most patriotic our nation has to offer.

They owed no allegiance to political parties or fealty to anything but patriotism, God, and Country. And they gave their lives so that we could enjoy the blessings of liberty that we must secure for future generations.

May God bless their souls and may they rest in peace knowing that we have assumed the watch and that we would gladly take their place for Constitution and Corps.

Semper fi,

Ike McCorkle

Combat Wounded

U.S. Marine Corps, Retired

Democratic Candidate for CO-04