HONOR OUR VETERANS

ON MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day is the day we set aside to honor our veterans who have passed, those living and those who are serving.  Memorial Day in the United States is rooted in the Civil War where over 620,000 Americans from the North and South died.  Perhaps the first recognition of war dead was started by former slaves on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina to honor 257 dead Union soldiers.

 

Those serving in our armed forces and our veterans stand apart as the arch stone of American greatness and exceptionalism.  The first shots at Lexington and Concord were fired and the Revolutionary War commenced because American men and women answered the call to arms.

 

Despite the hardship and personal risk Americans have never hesitated to serve.  Thucydides, a Greek philosopher, may have captured it best in stating, “The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.”  The long thread of honor and service continues unbroken, stitching together the diverse fabric that is America.
We invite you to join us in honoring our veterans at our TARGET Memorial Day Ice Cream Social.  Springfield and Greene County office holders will serve ice cream from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM outside the entrance to the Springfield National Cemetery near the corner of East Seminole and South Waverly Streets.  We look forward to seeing you there.

 

William L. McCoy

Colonel

United States Army

(Retired)