By U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud(D-Maine)
This year, we celebrate the 140th Memorial Day. Originally designated Decoration Day on May 5th 1868, it was a day set aside for family and friends to honor fallen Civil War soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers and ribbons. During early Memorial Day remembrances, it was common for the town’s mayor to read Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
While I’m not going to cite the whole address, I want to highlight one part that I believe sums up what Memorial Day is all about – “…that these dead shall not have died in vain … and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Since these words were spoken, millions of men and women have answered the call to protect our way of life, and our way of government. They have stepped up, made extraordinary sacrifices, and upheld the ideals fought for at Gettysburg.
Today, numerous Maine residents serve in the Armed Forces, Reserve and National Guard. Memorial Day is a time for us to stop and reflect upon the decisions made by these men and women. Just as their counterparts did 140 years ago, these young people choose to risk their lives to ensure that government of, by and for the people prevails.
Given today’s environment, a career in the military is not the easy choice. I salute not only each service member and veteran, but all of the people in your lives who have enabled you to make this choice.
The war that gave us Memorial Day – the Civil War – was America’s most costly war. Over 600,000 Americans died – both Union and Confederate. In the wars since, thousands of men and women have paid the same ultimate sacrifice. We must always remember their spirit, and always respect their memory. We must decorate their graves, and celebrate their lives.
And we must act. By acting we ensure these men and women do not die in vain and we honor their sacrifices. As Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I have fought for the rights of service members and veterans. I believe that our government – the people’s government – should do everything it can to provide the respect and care our veterans and service members have earned.
Just this week, the House of Representative passed several bills that would improve the quality of care and benefits available to our veterans. This package includes new legislation to address the health care needs of veterans – including full coverage for emergency care and substance use disorders. We authorized major medical facility construction projects, and provide an improved cost-of-living adjustment for disabled veterans.
But it is not enough. We must remain vigilant and active in our support. At a recent hearing, I spoke with a disabled veteran. He said that when our military personnel become veterans, too often they become “out of sight and out of mind.” That is unacceptable. It is the reason we hold Memorial Day events like this one – so that these men and women are not forgotten; that they do not die in vain.
So let us pause on this Memorial Day to remember those who fought, those who gave their life, and those who willingly stand ready today to defend each and every one of us. We owe each of them the highest regard, respect, and honor – and the assurance that their commitment to our nation’s freedom will never be forgotten.
