05/23/2026
A Memorial Day message from the 5th Region Commander.
To All Volunteers,
Memorial Day is often viewed through the lens of barbecues, holiday sales, and record-breaking travel. However, in recent decades, there has been a vital effort to reclaim the true spirit of this day: to honor our hallowed dead who gave, as President Lincoln said, "their last full measure of devotion."
It is hard to imagine that we were a nation at war for nearly a quarter of a century. I was beginning my second year as a cadet when September 11th occurred. From that point forward, humanitarian missions like Operations Uphold Democracy, Support Hope, and Provide Comfort were often overshadowed by sustained conflict. Even during periods of "peace," we experienced loss, from the attack in Beirut to the Battle of Mogadishu and the strikes on the U.S.S. Cole and our embassy in Tanzania. For the generation after us, constant conflict was all they knew.
Despite these differences in experience, we are linked to every generation of service members by a noble sentiment expressed through quiet commemoration—the laying of a wreath or the placement of a flag. These simple acts remind our fallen that they are never abandoned or forgotten.
This mission is at the heart of our work as U.S. Volunteers. We render final honors because we remember the friends, family members, and fellow "brothers and sisters of the Oath" who made the ultimate sacrifice.
This weekend is not about the living, but about the dead. As we stand by our chosen family to share their stories and comfort their pain, I ask each of you to honor those we have lost.
LTC Dean Argiris
Commanding
5th Regional Command
U.S. Army Volunteer Reserve
U.S. Volunteers - Joint Services Command
