Memorial Day has come to be known as the unofficial kick off to summer. Families across Missouri will be barbecuing with friends, perhaps attending a baseball or softball game, or maybe taking a trip to the lake to enjoy the nice weather on the water. But Memorial Day means so much more than the start of summer. It is a day to remember the heroes who put country before themselves so we could all live in freedom. 

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.), Memorial Day is celebrated at the end of May because that is when the majority of flowers should be blooming in states across America. The story goes that a general thought this would be fitting so Americans could easily access flowers to lay on the graves of our veterans. What began as a very practical notion has turned into a heartfelt tradition of laying wreaths and flowers on the graves of the soldiers who served our nation. These servicemembers laid down their lives for our country, and commemorating their service on Memorial Day each year helps bring our nation together in gratitude and reminds us that freedom most certainly does not come free. 

Our exit from Afghanistan this past summer makes this Memorial Day especially important, and personal for the Third District. Unfortunately, there are more American heroes to remember this year than in years past. We lost 13 servicemembers in the Kabul airport attack on August 26^th, including Wentzville-native, Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz who was just 20 years old. The oldest of the soldiers was just 31 years old. Because of their loved ones’ sacrifice and duty to our country, those 13 families will forever have an empty seat around their tables and an empty space in their hearts. 

Our exit from Afghanistan also marked the end of the War on Terror where 56 Missourians gave their lives throughout the course of the war. I was proud to cosponsor a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medals to the heroes we lost on August 26^th and to lead a resolution to honor the Missourians we lost in the War on Terror. We will never be able to sufficiently thank them, but these will help ensure they are remembered throughout history as the heroes they are. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice and will continue to pray for their families, especially this Memorial Day.

While it is not as widely known as it should be, Congress adopted the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000. This bill designates 3:00pm local time on Memorial Day as the national moment of remembrance and a time to pause and think about all the men and women who gave their lives for this country. I hope you’ll join me in observing this solemn moment to remember our heroes this year. While I hope you find a way to kick off your summer this weekend, please don’t forget to remember the sacrifices and American heroes who have made it possible. We owe it all to the members of our military and their families.