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Public Comments - Speeches
Memorial Day Speech
Vietnam Memorial, Independence Riverview Park, Independence OR
May 30, 1999Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this moment...
As a proud beneficiary of the freedoms that you provided - I am humbled by your invitation and grateful for the opportunity, to be part.
Before I begin, I must confess that as a former active duty Air Force Officer, and a current member of the Oregon Air National Guard, this day is a hard day for me.
In fact, I know it is a hard day for most of us.
But you know, I think that's the point; this is supposed to be a hard day - so that we remember -
So that we remember the why, behind the what.
You veterans assembled here understand why this day is so terribly difficult - you know freedom in a way few can.
You know freedom, you know that it really is not free; you understand that it must be bought with sacrifice and pain.
You also know that each generation of soldiers must in turn go and do - so their friends, family and neighbors don't have to.
This year my family has been reminded of that lesson because until just a few days ago I was on the list to go to Europe and support our NATO efforts there.
As you know, nobody ever really wants to go but it's something you just do.
However, Friday morning my unit called me and told that I wasn't going after all, at least not yet - something somewhere changed and I needed to stand by.
Unfortunately, we live in a dangerous, unpredictable world and keeping the peace has a cost - on ourselves as well as our family.
This was true in the First World War, World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War - and even still today.
This day reminds us that we must never forget that.
As I thought about what I wanted to say here, today - I realized that in truth, there is little uncharted territory.
Each of you has heard countless speeches about duty, honor and sacrifice - in fact, many of you have probably given one.
Every one of us that has ever worn the uniform understands, in a very personal way, exactly what this country means - at least to us.
And all of us are weary of other people trying to tell us the meaning behind our experience, or the value of our loss.
Much like you, these things are very private and yet also public -
I am proud to be an American, I am proud to serve and have served - but mostly, I am grateful.
I am grateful to you and those like you, that stood up and did what you had to do -
I am proud of what you did and the way in which you did it.
And I know that for many, that act - was their last.
Today, I'm not here to tell you anything that you don't already know.
Instead, I'm here to tell you that I appreciate the sacrifices you and your comrades made.
I'm here today to tell you - that it mattered, that the price paid was worth it.
Just under eleven score and three years ago, our country claimed for itself - and its posterity - the absolute right of self-determination.
Our founding fathers placed a bet on the ability of ordinary folks to choose for themselves what they wanted.
And every generation since has had to defend that claim - some at the ballot box, some in the courtrooms and, some in the field.
The how doesn't matter nearly so much as the why - and why, is self-evident.
We are the, We the People that must form a more perfect Union.
We're the ones that must establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility -
We're responsible for providing the common defense, promoting the General Welfare - and securing Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
You have in many ways, already done this - but we must continue the chorus.
Our country needs reminding - it needs reminding that sometimes the cost of doing what We the People are supposed to do is the most precious gift we are given.
I am only 29 years old. I have just under seven years of military experience and I know that don't know everything.
But I do know that service counts; I know that sacrifice for the benefit of the greater community is something very special.
And I know that each of you knows someone that made the ultimate sacrifice.
The fact is that we can't do anything about the past.
But we can, we must, do something about the future.
We must work to guarantee to those that died for this country, that this country is worth dying for.
We must recommit ourselves to the fight - to ensure that our nation rediscovers the principles, and ideals that have gotten us 'this far'.
And we must personally find a way to pass on the story, the story of sacrifice and blessing - to generations yet to come.
It's time that being a patriot is the rule, instead of the exception.
It's time that loving your country is recognized as routine, instead of naïve.
It's time that our children understand just how hard-won their rights and privileges were - so they value what they have.
And it's time that we recognize the gifts we've been given and the people that sacrificed to give.
In closing, I want to say again that I am humbled by your invitation - it has been an honor to be here.
I am grateful for everything that you and your generations of soldiers did -
Simply put, you made the difference, and I will do my level best to ensure we never forget.
