Memorial Day is when we remember and honor the U.S. military service members who died in service to their country. It is a day of remembrance and mourning and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. As I reflect on this Memorial Day and the thousands who gave their life in service to country, I’m reminded that each one of them have a story to tell. The rows upon rows of grave markers in our national cemeteries and other cemeteries where our fallen service members are honored, include those from all corners of our country, representing all ethnicities, races, ages, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Regardless of what any government, organizations, or individuals say, there are also lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender service members and thousands of women and people of all races and ethnicities who served honorably in uniform and gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Also, regardless of what anyone else says, their service and sacrifice is factual evidence that our diversity is our strength. Each of those who died in service to our country have a story to tell. It is important that All of their stories are told. So, to honor those who died in service to our country, how do we make them hear you? How do we tell your stories or service and sacrifice so that we may honor you each day?
I’m reminded of my childhood growing up in rural Georgia, sitting by the lake or a family picnic, or at the feet of relatives in living rooms and hearing the stories from family members of my relatives who served in previous military eras and periods of war who had long since died. Stories of great uncles, uncles, aunts, and their friends who served in WWI, WWII, Korean War, and the Vietnam War and died. Their stories lived on through their families and friends and communities. Stories retold by those who remembered and made us hear them so that we may know the costs of our freedoms and honor those who died defending them by living our lives with purpose and meaning in defense of those same freedoms and ideals.
And today, I remember those same stories of family members, as well as the stories of my own generation of friends and close family as well as chosen family, who died in service to country, like my friend Major Alan Rogers, U.S. Army who died in Iraq in 2008 during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). I hear the call, make them hear you, to ensure their stories are told and not forgotten.
While so much in our nation is dividing us these days, I encourage each of you to actively reach out this Memorial Day and the year ahead to find stories of other military service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice, perhaps someone that is different from you, different race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age/generation, etc. Learn about their story of service to our nation and their sacrifice. Consider how their service and sacrifice make your freedoms and all of our freedoms possible today. And if so moved, I encourage you to go tell their story to others to let them know the true cost of our freedoms. Let your story and the stories of the thousands who have served and sacrificed for our nation be heard. Make them hear you! For your story, everyone’s story, and every story of every service member who served honorably and died while serving matters. Make them hear you!
