Gratitude This Memorial Day
Thank you for Protecting Our Democracy
This Memorial Day, our hearts swell with gratitude as we honor the brave souls who stood tall under our flag—soldiers whose courage blazed across history, reminding us that America’s promise shines brightest when it embraces every voice.
The Unbreakable Spirit of Black Patriots
From the dust of the frontier rode the Buffalo Soldiers, their steady columns carving out hope in the aftermath of slavery. In the horror of World War I’s trenches, Private Henry Johnson—of the famed “Harlem Hellfighters”—fought off a German raid single-handedly, refusing to yield even when wounded, earning France’s Croix de Guerre. Decades later, the Tuskegee Airmen roared through flak-filled skies, their every sortie a declaration: Black men are patriots, heroes, equals. And in Europe’s chill, Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley led the all-Black 6888th Postal Directory Battalion—ensuring letters from home reached GIs hungry for comfort—her laughter and resolve kindling hope in the darkest hours.
LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Marching Proud
For generations, gay and lesbian service members carried the weight of sacrifice and secrecy. Staff Sergeant Leonard Matlovich returned from Vietnam decorated and yet forced into silence—until he refused to hide who he was, sparking one of the military’s first battles for gay rights. Today, Major General Tammy Smith stands tall as the first openly gay officer at that rank—her promotion a triumph not just for her but for every soul who dared to love openly. Their bravery reminds us that freedom demands honesty of the heart.
Heroes Beyond the Binary: Transgender Men and Women in Uniform
When Kristin Beck emerged from the elite SEAL teams as a transgender woman, and countless others—transgender men and women—stepped forward in uniform, they shattered the final barriers of who could call themselves a warrior. Monica Helms, Navy veteran and creator of the Transgender Pride flag, wove threads of identity and patriotism together, reminding us that defending our nation takes every kind of courage—and every kind of person.
Proud Voices of American Indian Warriors
Long before our republic’s birth, Native peoples stood as warriors. In muddy foxholes of World War I, Choctaw code talkers whispered secrets no enemy could decipher; in the jungles of World War II, Navajo code talkers turned their language into an unbreakable shield. Pima veteran Ira Hayes raised our flag over Iwo Jima, his steadfast gaze a beacon of valor. Their legacy reminds us that America’s roots run as deep as the oldest redwood.
The Unyielding Valor of Asian Americans
Asian-American soldiers wrote a chapter of grit and gallantry in the haze of battlefields from Europe to the Pacific. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team—composed almost entirely of Japanese-American volunteers—became the most decorated unit of its size in U.S. military history, charging up cliffside ridges in Italy with a battle cry for loyalty. Filipino-American heroes like Private First Class Jose Calugas stormed Guadalcanal’s beaches to earn the Medal of Honor, proving that even those whose ancestors came from distant isles have the heart of an American warrior.
The Immigrant’s Oath: Service from Every Shore
Arriving with dreams of freedom, men and women from far-flung lands have taken up arms as if born beneath our stars and stripes. Holocaust survivor Tibor Rubin fought in Korea with unbreakable resolve, risking everything to save his comrades and later earning the Medal of Honor. In more recent conflicts, immigrants continue to stand sentinel at our gates—knowing that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, and the greatest thanks is the right to call ourselves citizens.
A Tapestry of Sacrifice
Each name, each face—Black troopers in dusty foxholes, LGBTQ+ pioneers who refused to hide love, transgender men and women forging their paths, American Indian code talkers whose voices became legend, Asian-American battalions charging into hell, and immigrants exchanging past for promise—threads together into a tapestry rich with sacrifice.
United in Diversity
This Memorial Day, our tears mingle with pride. We lower our flags to half-staff for every hero who never came home and for every family left to carry their memory forward. Let us celebrate a military forged in diversity, where every creed, color, orientation, tribe, and birthplace lifts the standard of freedom. In honoring their service, we vow that the United States Armed Forces will remain a mosaic of courage—stronger, braver, and more beautiful because of every voice that answered the call.
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