Chairman of Joint Chiefs sends Memorial Day message

  • Published
  • By Gen. Peter Pace
  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  On this Memorial Day, as we remember our fallen comrades in arms, let us reflect upon the countless battles with now familiar names such as Yorktown, Gettysburg, Iwo Jima, Chosin, Hue City, Mazar-e-Sharif and Fallujah. Each one reminds us that liberty has a cost, and that freedom is not free.

America honors those who gave their lives -- and all of their tomorrows -- so that we might live in peace. We acknowledge their sacrifice and pledge our own service to their memory -- emulating their courage and dedication. Their legacy sets an enduring example for our 2.4 million active, Guard and Reserve military members serving today.
Memorial Day represents a time to remember and honor the untold sacrifices of those who have gone before us. It is also a time to remember that those who gave their lives in the defense of this country have left behind families. The freedoms America enjoys today have come at a precious cost, paid not only by those who died, but by those who lived.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff and I join the citizens of our great nation in tribute to our military men and women who have given their lives for our country. We hold them and their families in our hearts and prayers today -- and every day.

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