Ben says goodbye to Kyle and Jacob prior to deployment, Camp Lejeune NC, 2007

Memorial Day Weekend for most folks is a weekend to go to the pool, the beach, have picnics, celebrate the end of school or graduation, or just enjoy time with our families. It is a weekend to celebrate the American way of life and we absolutely should. But every American should take pause and have a moment of quiet reflection to remember that some Americans will never again be able to celebrate this weekend. Some families have a member who ensured that they could enjoy this weekend but cannot be with them. Memorial Day is a day to remember those brave Americans throughout our history who sacrificed their lives so that all Americans can enjoy this weekend and every day that follows.

Having served in the Marine Corps, and as an Iraq veteran myself, I know all too well the sacrifices these brave young professionals have made. Each Memorial Day the toll is increased, my heart grows heavier, and I owe more thanks. Memorial Day has personal meaning to anyone who has served alongside those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Upon reflection of Memorial Day, I think of my close, personal friends that paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. I am reminded of the words of President Kennedy, who said, “There is no way to maintain the frontiers of freedom without cost and commitment and risk. There is no swift and easy path to peace in our generation. No man, or woman, who witnessed the tragedies of the last war, no man or woman who can imagine the unimaginable possibilities of the next war, can advocate war out of irritability or frustration or impatience.”

I am also reminded of the words of President Eisenhower. He said that, “For well he knew that to live for country is a duty, as demanding as is the readiness to die for it.” He went on to say, “the good citizen now, as always before, is called upon to defend the rights of others as he does his own; to subordinate self to the country’s good; to refuse to take the easy way today that may invite national disaster tomorrow; to accept the truth that the work still to be done awaits his doing.”

The service members throughout our history that gave their lives were and are that good citizen. We do not stand in awe of our warriors because of their actions alone. We are inspired by them because even in the face of fear and unspeakable horrors they found the courage to do the right thing and do what was best for their country and their fellow man. If only we could show such sacrifice and dedication to our country and fellow man in our daily lives, our lives and issues that in comparison can sometimes be leisure, trite, and petty. May we learn and value the meaning of their sacrifice.

For all of those who sacrificed for our nation throughout our history, you will never be forgotten. For the sacrifices you have made earned us more than just our freedoms, they give us reason to look at future conflicts and war with pause and make us question what is in the vital interest of our nation to spill the blood of her sons and daughters in her name. For we warriors are reluctant warriors. As Gen. Douglas MacArthur stated, “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”

War has a great cost. Although we have brave men and women who volunteer to pay that price, it is not theirs alone to pay. War is a nation’s burden to bear. This is why we must be prudent and thoughtful before engaging our resources, our treasury, and the blood of our countrymen to such an endeavor that is an unfortunate part of our human condition. However, when our nation calls, we will answer her. We will sacrifice to ensure that she may live and endure. We will sacrifice to protect the innocent. We will sacrifice to punish the wicked. We will sacrifice to attempt to bring peace to our world. We only ask that our sacrifices not be in vain. We ask that this nation honor those sacrifices by ensuring that we are a peace loving nation that strives to make this world a better place, both within and beyond our borders. Our fallen have made their sacrifice, now we must honor them and make ours. We must pledge to ensure that we continue to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity. They swore to defend and sacrifice to uphold these truths and so shall we.

For those who have gone before us, thank you. With great humility and solemn duty, we dedicate ourselves to the great task remaining before us all.

We will ensure that you will never be forgotten.

Semper Fidelis,

Ben Leming