Political Quotes

“I rise today to reflect on this year's Memorial Day commemorations and the importance of this holiday in American life. As I attend Memorial Day parades and commemorations, I'm struck by the spirit of national unity on display because I know that across Michigan--and across our Nation--our fellow Americans are taking part in similar gatherings where we take the time to reflect on our history and the sacrifice that brought us to where we are today. Memorial Day is unique among American holidays. On Memorial Day we do not honor a particular date or event--a battle or the end of a war. On Memorial Day we do not honor an individual leader--a president or a general. On Memorial Day we do not even honor ourselves--at least not in the present tense. On Memorial Day we pay homage to the thousands and thousands of individual acts of bravery and sacrifice that stretch back to the battlefields of our Revolution and are on display today in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan. We honor the brave men and women who answered their Nation's call to duty. And--making that ultimate sacrifice--never returned to their families and loved ones. As part of this year's Memorial Day commemorations, I have been paying special respects to our Korean war veterans because this July marks the 50th Anniversary of the armistice that ended that war.”