| Dear John,
Since responding to the attack of the WTC in New York City on September 11, 2001, I have felt the consequences of loss during war. With every combat deployment thereafter, I directly felt the grief of losing fellow soldiers. When possible, I visit one of their graves for Memorial Day.
I also served with comrades who came home, but never truly returned mentally or emotionally. For me Memorial Day is also about honoring the men and women who took their own lives here at home.
Memorial Day has a long tradition and sacred purpose in American history. We recall our fallen, while celebrating the American values they died for. Our Memorial Day observances should be a reflection, examining duty, sacrifice, service, and purpose.
May is both Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. For me, Memorial Day highlights the overlap, because I’ve known too many American heroes we lost back home.
Every trip overseas had emotional consequences, and, like many other veterans, I’ve sought help.
Today a mental health epidemic rages through the veteran population. While over 7,000 service members died overseas in operations since September 11, 2001, over 30,000 Global War on Terror veterans have killed themselves.
These suicides hit home personally. Among the four friends I mourn for their post-deployment suicides, two were incredibly competent officers, strong leaders, calm and confident in action.
Our war dead remind us of the need for introspection before committing to military force.
Every life lost deserves remembrance. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines deserve a future, and blood should only be spilled when it is the sole option to safeguard our freedom at home.
We as a nation owe the current and next generations of war fighters an honest assessment of when military action is proper and necessary.
American service members who sacrificed themselves died to protect a nation that strives for better. A nation of ideals.
We can best honor the fallen by defining clear national interests, around the security of our borders in North America, our democratic system of governance, and our economic prosperity. Young American lives should not be carelessly spent, but only risked for compelling national interest.
We should exercise diplomacy first and partner to drive peace elsewhere, to avoid risking military entanglement.
Reflection includes examining partnerships and alliances which should always serve these core U.S. interests. We should never allow partners to sleepwalk us into their wars, where Americans will die, unless it serves our needs as well as theirs.
In the Middle East we spent decades fighting ever-evolving enemies. In Asia and the Pacific our diverse partners and allies look first to America rather than their own resources, even in the face of China’s rise. In Europe our NATO allies are only slowly beginning to carry their own weight in continental security. In cases America must be clear that we will not risk more service members to be fondly recalled on a future Memorial Day, unless it truly benefits those who would hold their memories. Young American lives should not be carelessly spent. | 
