Memorial Day Speech 2000

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
 
The President of the Municipal Council, Al Sears, sends his best wishes and apologies that he couldn’t join us this morning.  He asked me to speak to you, instead, on behalf of the Amesbury Municipal Council.  So I bring the Council’s salutations to all of you gathered here today.  I would particularly like to extend those greetings to all the many men and women here today who have served in our nation’s Armed Services: Mr. Mayor, Councilor Faro, Chaplain Lillian J. Eaton, Mary Eichenlaub, Veterans Agent Ron Koontz and American Foreign Legion Commander Roger Gaumont and so many others.
 
Today, we gather to honor those who have served in our nation’s defense, both in times of peace and in times of war.  But especially, we gather here, in this sacred place, to remember those who gave their lives to protect our country’s freedom.
 
Our nation’s second president, John Adams, once wrote: “I must study politics and war, so that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.  My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry and music.”
 
That quote has always held meaning for me, and never more so than here, today.  You see, I am not a veteran; I have not served in our nation’s military.  I stand here today and speak to you, not as veteran, but as a politician.  I have been very lucky, because I grew up in a time of peace, in a time when our nation was not at war. 
 
Both my father’s and my grandfather’s generations saw compulsory military service: my father served in the United States Navy and my grandfather fought in the First World War.  But my generation has been spared that; we have not had to confront the horrors of war or the necessity of military service.  We have had the ability to choose whether or not to serve in our nation’s military – and we have had that choice, only because of the generations who came before us.  We…are the beneficiaries of your sacrifices.
 
Many of my generation have chosen to serve in our nation’s military, and their service guarantees that the freedoms we enjoy today will also be available tomorrow.
 
My youngest brother, David, is a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, and stationed at Pearl Harbor.  One of my closest childhood friends, Bruce Syvinksi, is a Captain in the United States Army. Every time they are stationed on dangerous duty overseas, I pray for their safe return; and, fortunately, they have always returned safely.  During their military careers, both have made personal sacrifices in service to their nation—for instance, Bruce missed the birth of his first child when he was stationed in Bosnia. 
But their service, and its costs to their families, cannot compare to the sacrifices of those we are here to remember today – those who have given their lives in defense of our nation’s freedom.
 
I cannot put into words the appreciation I have for my father, my grandfather, my brother, my friend, all of the Veterans here today, and all of the others who have served in the defense of our nation.  And I cannot possibly express my feelings for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
 
I can only say two words: Thank you.
 
Thank you for preserving and protecting this nation and what it stands for.  Thank you for enduring what you did, to defend what we have, and what we are. Thank you for the freedoms my generation, and all of us here, enjoy today.  We are, truly, forever in your debt.
 
And I’d like to ask all of you here today – boy scouts, girl scouts, mothers, fathers, any of you who have not served in the armed services – if you do anything today, to recognize Memorial Day, please do one thing: please join me in saying “thank you” to a Veteran.  When you get home, call a Veteran you know, and say “thank you”.  Or, send a Veteran a letter, or a “thank you” card.  Even right now – just turn to the people in uniform, next to you, and let them know how grateful you are for their service.  Because we have all benefited from their sacrifices.