Memorial Day Reminds Us Freedom Isn’t Free

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For nearly 127 years, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has served as the guardian of the veteran legacy, and this Memorial Day we call upon the American people to look past the onset of summer festivities to recognize the true, somber heart of this holiday.

Memorial Day is not a day centered on celebrations and bargain savings, instead it is a day of mourning and deep reverence for those who never took off our nation's uniform. It is a day to acknowledge a debt that can never be fully repaid … a debt owed to the men and women who have stood tall in defense of our freedom and gave their last full measure of devotion.

Freedom isn't free. Memorial Day reminds us that the cost of those liberties were paid by individuals who had dreams, families and futures that were willingly forfeited so that we may be free to live out our own.

The more than 1.3 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary will spend this weekend at gravesides and memorials, ensuring that the sacrifices of our fallen heroes are never forgotten. The VFW calls on all Americans to remember that while we enjoy gatherings with friends and family, these moments are made possible only by those who are no longer here to join us. May we not just enjoy the freedom they left us but also strive to be a nation worthy of such a sacrifice.