Memorial Day

    On Monday, people of all ages will observe Memorial Day, pausing to remember the sacrifices of men and women who died in service to our nation - a tradition begun in the Empire State 137 years ago by the residents of the Seneca County community of Waterloo.

     It is a timeless legacy.

   The tradition of honoring and remembering our fallen patriots was begun by our ancestors, who, in the aftermath of the darkest period in American history, took time out from their spring chores to place wild flowers on the graves of loved ones and neighbors, who gave their lives in the terrible Civil War that had divided our nation.

    As we observe Memorial Day, we are in the midst of a new type of war in which, for the first time since the Civil War, the battle has been brought to American soil. The horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, scarred but did not weaken our nation. Rather, it served to galvanize Americans and our collective resolve to defeat those who seek to destroy us. 

    The great debt we owe to those who died for our nation and its principles can never be fully repaid. Memorial Day provides us an opportunity to give thanks to those who make the ultimate sacrifice out of love for their country, and reflect on the courage and selflessness of those who would give their lives so that others could live.

    Memorial Day - or Decoration Day as it was originally called - is not a day of sorrow, but rather a time  for solemn reflection.

    Whether at public ceremonies or in private over a loved one's grave, Memorial Day is an appropriate time to reflect on our country and those whose spirit, pride and courage have preserved our way of life, which we must never take for granted and leave unguarded.

    More than a million men and women have died defending our nation and its principles of freedom and democracy, throughout our history. They did not go to war because they wanted to die. They went out of a sense of honor, duty and dedication to the cause of freedom - just as those who today willingly place themselves in harm's way in the war against terrorism.