Guard with Jealous Attention the Public Liberty

On Memorial Day our nation pauses to pay tribute to the lives and service of military men and women who have given everything for our freedom. From the first Colonial soldier who took up arms in 1775 to the men and women in Afghanistan, we all hope the last soldier to die was the last we will have to morn and pay tribute to. But just as sure as life goes on so does war so tributes are inevitable.
To many, Memorial Day has become just another day off from work. Perhaps a reminder is due! The general public and more important, future generations need to be made aware in the most over powering way that this day is never to be forgotten. No one should ever forget that sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance.
Now more than years past the relevance of Memorial day should be more evident. With two wars underway there is no excuse for not remembering American's war dead. Patrick Henry who was famous for the words "Give me Liberty or give me Death" also said "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give that up you are ruined". I am not alone when sometimes taking the public liberty for granted but on Memorial Day I always pay tribute to those who have given me the freedom I enjoy everyday. This year I have not decided what form that tribute will take but you can rest assured I will be surrounded by red white and blue on that day.