From the Capitol: Freedom is Never Free

Can you imagine living in a country without freedom of speech, religion or expression? Can you imagine giving up the rights you were born with? Can you imagine a world without independence?

Life would be very different and very difficult.

As Americans, we enjoy many liberties and freedoms on a daily basis. In most situations, we can be who we want to be, say what we want to say, and do what we want to do.

We all know that people in the United States enjoy more freedoms than in other nations. However, it is not something that every person recognizes or acknowledges every day. It is the “norm” for us all, which is an amazing privilege. And like everything that is considered normal, it is very easy to take our liberties for granted.

That is why Memorial Day holds such an important place in my heart, and in the hearts of many. We cannot bring enough public awareness to this day. For some, it is merely the start of summer. For all, it should be a day to reflect, remember and be thankful. We owe it to the courageous men and women who fought for our country and died for our nation.

Freedom is never free. The liberties we enjoy today were paid for by the sacrifices of our service men and women and every risk, task and mission that put people in harm’s way. We have seen many losses. And in exchange for each heartbreaking loss, our nation has maintained its freedom.

Memorial Day is a time for us to remember those losses and revive their legacy. It is a day to recall and honor the brave military personnel who sacrificed their lives so our lives could be better. From the birth of our nation to present day, our military has been responsible for creating our free country and maintaining our liberties. Each time our way of life has been threatened, our neighbors, our children, our parents, our friends have stood up and defended us.

To all those who have served and protected others, I thank you and I honor your memory and mission. There is a price to pay for freedom, and we are surely indebted to all those who have given selflessly to protect the United States and its people.

While Monday specifically is a day to remember those we have lost, the entire month of May is “National Military Appreciation Month,” and I encourage everyone to continuously thank our veterans and active military personnel as well.

I cannot imagine living in a country without the amazing freedoms granted to people in the United States, but these freedoms come at a price. That is why we need to be thankful and show our gratitude to those who have sacrificed for our country. Their bravery and service is what allows liberty and justice to continue reigning free.