John,

Men and women of every color and creed have died defending our nation, and today I honor their sacrifice, their dedication, their love for our country. I also know that with that sacrifice there is a family, friends, and a community with a permanent void and today I am keeping all of them close to my heart.

We drink from wells of freedom and liberty that we did not dig. There is no way we can fully repay the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our country, but we must pay it forward.

For me, each year Memorial Day serves as a reminder to recommit ourselves to the ideals of this nation – the very ideals that Americans have served, bled, and died for. Our Constitution acknowledged there was work left to do “to create a more perfect Union” and today amidst the parades and barbecues I hope we can all take a moment to dedicate ourselves to living up to the ideals that generations of Americans have died for.

May you have a blessed Memorial Day.

Cory