Andre Carson: “as we approach another celebration of Memorial Day, it is incumbent that we pay homage to the Nation's veterans and war…”

“as we approach another celebration of Memorial Day, it is incumbent that we pay homage to the Nation's veterans and war dead with more than just words. Rather, we reflect on how our actions honor or may dishonor this great republic for which they enlist to defend. Indiana's veterans and war dead share in this tribute. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our Nation's service. Those that we remember--veterans--are precious benchmarks for how well we have maintained all of the freedoms and democratic principles they fought and died for. Veterans fought for the survival of all the things that made the United States, the leader of the free world: Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for each citizen and not the least--our great Constitution which undergirds this Republic. It is in defense of our democratic principles and the freedoms that we uphold and value for each citizen with no respect to wealth, social rank, or might, that we form a military, that we have veterans, that we honor them on Memorial Day.”