05/25/2026
My Memorial Day speech this morning
Good morning, everyone.
First, thank you all for being here today. Memorial Day is one of those special days where our community comes together not just in celebration, but in remembrance.
And I will be honest with you. When I woke up this morning and saw the weather, I did what a lot of people probably did. I complained a little.
I thought about the rain. I thought about wet shoes. And I especially thought about the absolutely terrible backyard barbecue I am probably going to be attending later today.
But then I stopped and reminded myself of something important.
The ability to complain about the weather is actually a privilege.
The ability to gather with neighbors, stand here safely in our community, argue about whether burgers or hot dogs are better, and spend time with family on a rainy Monday morning, those are freedoms that were protected by people who never got the chance to come home and enjoy those simple moments themselves.
The men and women we honor today gave up future summers, future holidays, future ordinary days, so that we could continue to live ours freely.
And that is what Memorial Day asks of us. Not just to remember sacrifice in a distant or abstract way, but to appreciate the everyday blessings that sacrifice made possible.
Even the small things.
Even the rainy things.
So today, whether the sun comes out or not, let us be grateful to be together. Let us honor those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice not only with ceremonies and flags, but by living fully, kindly, and gratefully in the country they helped preserve.
Thank you, God bless our veterans and military families, and God bless the United States of America.
