Remembering Our Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day
Memorial Day originated in the nineteenth century as a day to remember the U.S. soldiers who gave their lives in the American Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers. It is the day Americans remember the military men and women who died while serving our country. It is a day when people decorate the graves of our fallen military heroes. Memorial Day this year is May 25, 2020.
From World War I to today more than 40 million Americans have served in the U.S. military. Over 1,136,000 people were wounded in combat and 660,000 gave their lives for our country.
Duty, Honor Country
by Five Star General Douglas MacArthur
The motto of the United States Military Academy at West Point is “Duty, Honor, Country.” On May 12, 1962, retired 82 year old U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur, holder of the Medal of Honor and the leader of the Army in the Pacific theater during World War II, gave his now famous 34 minute “Duty, Honor, Country” speech without notes to the entire corps of 2,100+ West Point cadets. This speech is my favorite speech of all time on any topic. I re-read it several times a year because: (i) what the General says about military service and sacrifice and Duty, Honor, Country moves and inspires me, and (ii) what he said then is as true now as it has always been throughout the history of the U.S. military. I recommend you read the entire text of the speech and listen to an audio of the General’s speech. (more…)
