Friend,

Today and every day, we honor the members of our military who paid the ultimate price serving and protecting our country, and the families and loved ones they left behind.

San Diego is a proud military community, home to the largest concentration of military personnel and the third-largest veteran population in the country. Our community understands the immense sacrifice of our service members and military families, and we honor them.

In years past, I have spent Memorial Day at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, laying roses on the graves of fallen service members and reflecting on the ways they lived and died.

This year, as we are still in the throes of this worldwide pandemic, I’m especially thinking of the members of our Armed Forces who are struggling with COVID-19. Last month, San Diegans mourned the loss of Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker, Jr., a crew member of the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the first active-duty service member to die from complications of COVID-19. More than 1,000 sailors serving aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt tested positive for COVID-19 and many more service members have been deeply affected by the disease.

Today, I hope you’ll join me in taking this time to reflect on the sacrifices of our service members -- including those who made the ultimate sacrifice -- and comfort and honor the families who mourn them. May their memories be a blessing.

Thank you,

Sara