Posted on May 20, 2015
Have you ever written and presented a Memorial Day Speech?
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I wrote and gave this speech last year at a Memorial Day ceremony.
Memorial Day 2014
Thank you. I am humbled and deeply honored to be here.
This morning, I would like to talk to all of you about the “True Meaning of Memorial Day.”
Memorial Day is a day unlike any other. Since 1868 we have come together in our communities, cities and towns, to place flowers and flags on the graves of those who have given their last full measure of devotion to our country. We have come here to remember and honor those who have done their duty, and never asked for anything in return other than to be respected and remembered for doing their duty of protecting our freedom and our way of life. In doing so, millions of these soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice, their life, for our freedom.
Memorial Day, which was originally called DECORATION DAY, is a day of remembrance for those soldiers who have died in service of the United States of America. It was called Decoration Day because family and friends of the fallen soldiers would come together and decorate the graves of these brave men with flowers and wreaths.
DECORATION Day then was renamed MEMORIAL Day by President Richard M. Nixon in 1971 and it became a National Day of Remembrance. A day of National awareness and respect to honor all the Americans who have died defending this Great Country of ours.
The meaning of memorial is “in memory .” With this in mind, we know the true meaning of Memorial Day,
TO HONOR AND REMEMBER ALL THOSE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO DIED DEFENDING OUR FREEDOM. OUR RIGHT TO BE FREE!
It’s the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.
It’s the Soldier, not the poet, who gave us the freedom of speech.
It’s the Soldier, not the politicians, that ensures us our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It’s the Soldier who salutes the Flag, who serves beneath the Flag and whose coffin is draped by the Flag.
Let me cite a few facts—incomplete facts—before I say anything else, because facts have a way of not allowing you to ignore them. Facts are brutal.
• During the period between the Revolutionary War to the present, it was the Civil War that produced the most American fatalities.
• World War II was the first war in which there were more battle deaths than deaths from other causes such as accidents, disease and infections.
• The total deaths of American soldiers who served in Major United States’ Wars, which includes The Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Gulf War, The Iraq War and the Afghanistan War, is more than 1,345,600 soldiers lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
To put that into proper perception, in 2013, the US Census Bureau estimated that NH had a total population of 1,323,459 people.
Therefore, we lost more solders fighting in Wars than we had people living in our State of New Hampshire. Think about that, it’s just amazing how many soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice, lost their life, fighting for our freedom.
Those Americans who died in all these wars—and more could be mentioned—did their duty for God and our Country, and we know who they are, as we visit the cemeteries and note the dates of their shortened lives on their headstones. We know their loved ones, their wives and mothers, and their children, and the friends who shall always miss them.
As I said at the beginning of my speech here this morning, Memorial Day is a Day unlike any other.
Memorial Day is not a day to honor the living, but to the contrary, it’s a Day to Honor the dead.
Memorial Day is a Day of remembrance and to honor and remember all those men and women, many of them just boys who gave their lives, paid the ultimate sacrifice for us and this Country protecting our freedom and our way of life.
Memorial Day is a time to remember and celebrate. Though sadness touches our hearts, courage and bravery are two Memorial Day traditions that will carry on long after we are all gone.
The following Memorial Day Poem is a salute to the finest and bravest and it’s called “In a Mother’s Eyes”
In A Mother’s Eyes
By Andrew Dean
The day our flagpole was ready, We had no flag to fly
A mother stepped forward and said I have a flag with a tear in her eye
It was given to me the day that we laid my son to rest
He was a true blue soldier who gave his life his best.
I got a knot in my throat and a chill in my bones
A tear rolled down my face
A mother has lost her son at war
The pain on her face.
In a mother's eyes you can see red, white, and blue
In a mother's eyes you can see the pain so true
Freedom comes with a cost of sadness and loss
You can see in a mother's eyes.
When someone puts their life on the line so others can be free
It's a selfless act of courage and love, how thankful we all should be
And when I look at the flag today, I see a whole new meaning there
I see the men and the women who died for her
So in this freedom we can share.
In a mother's eyes you can see red, white, and blue
In a mother's eyes you can see the pain so true
Freedom comes with a cost of sadness and loss
You can see in a mother's eyes.
On this past Friday, Bob McKinley and I, had the honor to give a small presentation to the Milton Elementary School children, grades K through 5, about “What is the True Meaning of Memorial Day.” As I was contemplating what to say, and in words that these youngsters could really understand, I couldn’t help but to reflect back to my Marine Corps years and my two tours of duty in Vietnam. Like all of us who served our Country, we went out and did what we had to, without question or hesitation, to protect our rights and freedom. When I first arrived in Vietnam in March of 1969, I was a scared, shy, (yes I said shy) 18 years old boy that had no idea what to expect. But soon, I made strong lasting friendships that I would always cherish and never forget. These fellow Marines became my family, my brothers and we looked after each other and covered each other’s back. When one of us hurt, we all hurt, and I unfortunately, like most of you who served our Country, lost many good friends, extended family, brother in arms.
So while I was thinking about what to say to these children, I came up with a few ideas:
The American soldiers came from all walks of life and many of them were just ordinary citizens, boys, who did something extraordinary. Millions of them died defending our freedom and our way of life. They paid the ultimate sacrifice, their life, so that we could be free.
Indeed, for lots of families, the Memorial Day weekend kicks off a wonderful season of barbecues, swimming (if it stops raining and warms up) camping and all sorts of other outdoor fun. But the true meaning of Memorial Day goes much deeper than this.
On this Memorial Day, try and take some time, even if just a few minutes, to think and remember those men, boys, and women from our hometown and from across the Country who have served and died but who will never be forgotten.
Because, the Real Meaning of Memorial Day is to honor and remember all those American Soldiers who died defending our freedom!
RED POPPIES
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies
TAPS
There are only 24 notes of Taps and when you hear it, you stand up straight, you do not talk and at the end, you do not clap or cheer.
Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more emotional than the call of Taps. The melody is both eloquent (powerful) and haunting (moving) and once you hear it, you will always remember how it sounds.
On Memorial Day, TAPS is always played to honor the men and women who paid that ultimate sacrifice, their life for our Country and for our freedom.
There are no official words to the music of Taps but here is one of the most popular verses:
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
After my presentation, I played Taps on my bugle and I can tell you, these young children just stood there, they never said a word and just listened as I played those 24 notes.
So on this Memorial Day, please take a few minutes out of your busy day to reflect and remember all those who died so that all of us can be free.
Have a wonderful and meaningful Memorial Day!
Thank you!
Memorial Day 2014
Thank you. I am humbled and deeply honored to be here.
This morning, I would like to talk to all of you about the “True Meaning of Memorial Day.”
Memorial Day is a day unlike any other. Since 1868 we have come together in our communities, cities and towns, to place flowers and flags on the graves of those who have given their last full measure of devotion to our country. We have come here to remember and honor those who have done their duty, and never asked for anything in return other than to be respected and remembered for doing their duty of protecting our freedom and our way of life. In doing so, millions of these soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice, their life, for our freedom.
Memorial Day, which was originally called DECORATION DAY, is a day of remembrance for those soldiers who have died in service of the United States of America. It was called Decoration Day because family and friends of the fallen soldiers would come together and decorate the graves of these brave men with flowers and wreaths.
DECORATION Day then was renamed MEMORIAL Day by President Richard M. Nixon in 1971 and it became a National Day of Remembrance. A day of National awareness and respect to honor all the Americans who have died defending this Great Country of ours.
The meaning of memorial is “in memory .” With this in mind, we know the true meaning of Memorial Day,
TO HONOR AND REMEMBER ALL THOSE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO DIED DEFENDING OUR FREEDOM. OUR RIGHT TO BE FREE!
It’s the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.
It’s the Soldier, not the poet, who gave us the freedom of speech.
It’s the Soldier, not the politicians, that ensures us our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It’s the Soldier who salutes the Flag, who serves beneath the Flag and whose coffin is draped by the Flag.
Let me cite a few facts—incomplete facts—before I say anything else, because facts have a way of not allowing you to ignore them. Facts are brutal.
• During the period between the Revolutionary War to the present, it was the Civil War that produced the most American fatalities.
• World War II was the first war in which there were more battle deaths than deaths from other causes such as accidents, disease and infections.
• The total deaths of American soldiers who served in Major United States’ Wars, which includes The Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Gulf War, The Iraq War and the Afghanistan War, is more than 1,345,600 soldiers lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
To put that into proper perception, in 2013, the US Census Bureau estimated that NH had a total population of 1,323,459 people.
Therefore, we lost more solders fighting in Wars than we had people living in our State of New Hampshire. Think about that, it’s just amazing how many soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice, lost their life, fighting for our freedom.
Those Americans who died in all these wars—and more could be mentioned—did their duty for God and our Country, and we know who they are, as we visit the cemeteries and note the dates of their shortened lives on their headstones. We know their loved ones, their wives and mothers, and their children, and the friends who shall always miss them.
As I said at the beginning of my speech here this morning, Memorial Day is a Day unlike any other.
Memorial Day is not a day to honor the living, but to the contrary, it’s a Day to Honor the dead.
Memorial Day is a Day of remembrance and to honor and remember all those men and women, many of them just boys who gave their lives, paid the ultimate sacrifice for us and this Country protecting our freedom and our way of life.
Memorial Day is a time to remember and celebrate. Though sadness touches our hearts, courage and bravery are two Memorial Day traditions that will carry on long after we are all gone.
The following Memorial Day Poem is a salute to the finest and bravest and it’s called “In a Mother’s Eyes”
In A Mother’s Eyes
By Andrew Dean
The day our flagpole was ready, We had no flag to fly
A mother stepped forward and said I have a flag with a tear in her eye
It was given to me the day that we laid my son to rest
He was a true blue soldier who gave his life his best.
I got a knot in my throat and a chill in my bones
A tear rolled down my face
A mother has lost her son at war
The pain on her face.
In a mother's eyes you can see red, white, and blue
In a mother's eyes you can see the pain so true
Freedom comes with a cost of sadness and loss
You can see in a mother's eyes.
When someone puts their life on the line so others can be free
It's a selfless act of courage and love, how thankful we all should be
And when I look at the flag today, I see a whole new meaning there
I see the men and the women who died for her
So in this freedom we can share.
In a mother's eyes you can see red, white, and blue
In a mother's eyes you can see the pain so true
Freedom comes with a cost of sadness and loss
You can see in a mother's eyes.
On this past Friday, Bob McKinley and I, had the honor to give a small presentation to the Milton Elementary School children, grades K through 5, about “What is the True Meaning of Memorial Day.” As I was contemplating what to say, and in words that these youngsters could really understand, I couldn’t help but to reflect back to my Marine Corps years and my two tours of duty in Vietnam. Like all of us who served our Country, we went out and did what we had to, without question or hesitation, to protect our rights and freedom. When I first arrived in Vietnam in March of 1969, I was a scared, shy, (yes I said shy) 18 years old boy that had no idea what to expect. But soon, I made strong lasting friendships that I would always cherish and never forget. These fellow Marines became my family, my brothers and we looked after each other and covered each other’s back. When one of us hurt, we all hurt, and I unfortunately, like most of you who served our Country, lost many good friends, extended family, brother in arms.
So while I was thinking about what to say to these children, I came up with a few ideas:
The American soldiers came from all walks of life and many of them were just ordinary citizens, boys, who did something extraordinary. Millions of them died defending our freedom and our way of life. They paid the ultimate sacrifice, their life, so that we could be free.
Indeed, for lots of families, the Memorial Day weekend kicks off a wonderful season of barbecues, swimming (if it stops raining and warms up) camping and all sorts of other outdoor fun. But the true meaning of Memorial Day goes much deeper than this.
On this Memorial Day, try and take some time, even if just a few minutes, to think and remember those men, boys, and women from our hometown and from across the Country who have served and died but who will never be forgotten.
Because, the Real Meaning of Memorial Day is to honor and remember all those American Soldiers who died defending our freedom!
RED POPPIES
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies
TAPS
There are only 24 notes of Taps and when you hear it, you stand up straight, you do not talk and at the end, you do not clap or cheer.
Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more emotional than the call of Taps. The melody is both eloquent (powerful) and haunting (moving) and once you hear it, you will always remember how it sounds.
On Memorial Day, TAPS is always played to honor the men and women who paid that ultimate sacrifice, their life for our Country and for our freedom.
There are no official words to the music of Taps but here is one of the most popular verses:
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
After my presentation, I played Taps on my bugle and I can tell you, these young children just stood there, they never said a word and just listened as I played those 24 notes.
So on this Memorial Day, please take a few minutes out of your busy day to reflect and remember all those who died so that all of us can be free.
Have a wonderful and meaningful Memorial Day!
Thank you!
Memorial Day
Ceremony
Honor Guard
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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It wasn't Memorial Day; but, on Veterans Day 2005. I was still in uniform serving in the Pentagon and the leadership of my church asked me to be in uniform to read a letter that a young soldier wrote prior to an operation in OIF that would only be sent posthumously. I thought and prayed long and hard about how best to deliver this message to honor the writer and his family as well as to bless the congregation.
"I have the honor of reading the Final Letter from Private First Class Jesse Givens to his wife Melissa, son Dakota nicknamed Toad, and the son nicknamed bean who was in his wife’s womb when he deployed to Iraq.
Jesse new that this letter would only be sent after he had been confirmed dead.
He wrote it on April 22, 2003 and died in his M1 tank on May 1, 2003 in Al Habbaniyah, Iraq."
Final Letter of Pfc. Jesse Givens
My family:
I never thought I would be writing a letter like this, I really don't know where to start. I've been getting bad feelings though and well if you are reading this....
Melissa I am forever in debt to you, Dakota, and the bean. I searched all my life for a dream and I found it in you. I would like to think that I made a positive difference in your lives. The happiest moments in my life all deal with my little family. I will always have with me the small moments we all shared. The moment you quit taking life so serious and smiled. The sounds of a beautiful boy’s laughter or the simple nudge of a baby unborn. You will never know how complete you have made me. Each and every one of you. You saved me from loneliness and taught me how to think beyond myself. You taught me how to live and to love. You opened my eyes to a world I never dreamed existed. I am proud of you. Never lose sight of what is important, you and our babies.
Dakota you are more son then I could ever ask for. I can only hope I was half the dad. When you were smaller I used to be your "danny" and it still makes me smile to think about it. I am so proud of you. You taught me how to care until it hurts, you taught me how to smile again. You taught me that life isn't so serious and sometimes you have to play. You have a big beautiful heart. Through life you need to keep it open and follow it. Never be afraid to be yourself. I will always be there in our park when you dream -- so we can still play. I hope someday you will have a son like mine. Make them smile and shine just like you. I love you Toad. I hope someday you will understand why I didn't come home. Please be proud of me. Please don't stop loving life. Take in every breath like it's your first. I love you toad. I will always be there with you. I'll be in the sun, shadows, dreams, and joys of your life.
Bean, I never got to see you; but, I know in my heart you are beautiful. I know you will be strong and big hearted just like your mom and brother. I will always have with me the feel of the soft nudges on your mom’s belly, and the joy I felt when we found out you were on your way. I dream of you every night, I always will. Don't ever think that since I wasn't around that I didn't love you. You were conceived of love and I came to this terrible place for love. I love you as I do your mom and brother with all my heart and soul. Please understand that I had to be gone so that I could take care of my family. I love you Bean.
I have never been so blessed as the day I met you Melissa. You are my angel, soul-mate, wife, lover, and best friend. I am sorry. I did not want to have to write this letter. There is so much more I need to say, so much more I need to share. A lifetime's worth. I married you for a million lifetimes. That's how long I will be with you. Please keep our babies safe. Please find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving you alone. Take care of yourself, believe in yourself, you are a strong, big hearted woman. Teach our babies to live life to its fullest. Tell yourself to do the same. Don't forget to take Toad to Disney World. I will be there with you. Melissa I will always want you, need you, and love you in my heart, mind, and soul. Do me a favor, after you tuck Toad and Bean in, give them hugs and kisses from me. Go outside look at the stars and count them. Don't forget to smile.
Love Always
Your husband
Jess
"I have the honor of reading the Final Letter from Private First Class Jesse Givens to his wife Melissa, son Dakota nicknamed Toad, and the son nicknamed bean who was in his wife’s womb when he deployed to Iraq.
Jesse new that this letter would only be sent after he had been confirmed dead.
He wrote it on April 22, 2003 and died in his M1 tank on May 1, 2003 in Al Habbaniyah, Iraq."
Final Letter of Pfc. Jesse Givens
My family:
I never thought I would be writing a letter like this, I really don't know where to start. I've been getting bad feelings though and well if you are reading this....
Melissa I am forever in debt to you, Dakota, and the bean. I searched all my life for a dream and I found it in you. I would like to think that I made a positive difference in your lives. The happiest moments in my life all deal with my little family. I will always have with me the small moments we all shared. The moment you quit taking life so serious and smiled. The sounds of a beautiful boy’s laughter or the simple nudge of a baby unborn. You will never know how complete you have made me. Each and every one of you. You saved me from loneliness and taught me how to think beyond myself. You taught me how to live and to love. You opened my eyes to a world I never dreamed existed. I am proud of you. Never lose sight of what is important, you and our babies.
Dakota you are more son then I could ever ask for. I can only hope I was half the dad. When you were smaller I used to be your "danny" and it still makes me smile to think about it. I am so proud of you. You taught me how to care until it hurts, you taught me how to smile again. You taught me that life isn't so serious and sometimes you have to play. You have a big beautiful heart. Through life you need to keep it open and follow it. Never be afraid to be yourself. I will always be there in our park when you dream -- so we can still play. I hope someday you will have a son like mine. Make them smile and shine just like you. I love you Toad. I hope someday you will understand why I didn't come home. Please be proud of me. Please don't stop loving life. Take in every breath like it's your first. I love you toad. I will always be there with you. I'll be in the sun, shadows, dreams, and joys of your life.
Bean, I never got to see you; but, I know in my heart you are beautiful. I know you will be strong and big hearted just like your mom and brother. I will always have with me the feel of the soft nudges on your mom’s belly, and the joy I felt when we found out you were on your way. I dream of you every night, I always will. Don't ever think that since I wasn't around that I didn't love you. You were conceived of love and I came to this terrible place for love. I love you as I do your mom and brother with all my heart and soul. Please understand that I had to be gone so that I could take care of my family. I love you Bean.
I have never been so blessed as the day I met you Melissa. You are my angel, soul-mate, wife, lover, and best friend. I am sorry. I did not want to have to write this letter. There is so much more I need to say, so much more I need to share. A lifetime's worth. I married you for a million lifetimes. That's how long I will be with you. Please keep our babies safe. Please find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving you alone. Take care of yourself, believe in yourself, you are a strong, big hearted woman. Teach our babies to live life to its fullest. Tell yourself to do the same. Don't forget to take Toad to Disney World. I will be there with you. Melissa I will always want you, need you, and love you in my heart, mind, and soul. Do me a favor, after you tuck Toad and Bean in, give them hugs and kisses from me. Go outside look at the stars and count them. Don't forget to smile.
Love Always
Your husband
Jess
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SSG Melvin Nulph
GySgt W A Ekblad, you said a mouthful there. LTC S Ford, you sir are a better man than I, I do not see me reading that letter again let alone out loud In front of anyone. Having had that feeling myself, I couldn't bring myself to write the letter. But pray I did, and I'm thankful things turned out for the best in my situation. Thought I had left that memory behind years ago.
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LTC Stephen F.
SSG Melvin Nulph and GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, that Veterans day church service was probably the most challenging public speaking experience I have ever gone through. By the grace of God I was able to deliver it well [from comments afterwards]. As I prepared to develop words to say and then on the day of the event preparing to speak with the proper spirit, I was periodically flooded with emotion thinking about what I would have written in a similar situation. I think of that experience as a once in a lifetime event.
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MAJ (Join to see)
A youthful 1LT Paul Hoiland delivers the keynote address at Memorial Day observances at Soldier's Field Park, Rochester, MN May 29, 2000.
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MAJ (Join to see)
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, rousing? Perhaps not the best word for it. Solemn and appropriate for the occasion? You're damned right it was!
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Yep, you responded before I was able to get back and edit my comment. Sorry about that. I'm sure your speech was just right MAJ (Join to see). Semper fi ...
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I have one coming up at a Veteran's Home this weekend.
I'll be giving up a prized possession, a flag I had flown over my outpost in Afghanistan on September 11, 2003. I thought this would make a good home for it.
I just love hanging out with old vets. They never get tired of swapping war stories.
I'll be giving up a prized possession, a flag I had flown over my outpost in Afghanistan on September 11, 2003. I thought this would make a good home for it.
I just love hanging out with old vets. They never get tired of swapping war stories.
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