Honoring the Cost of Freedom

Today, as our country pauses to honor Memorial Day, I find myself doing the same, slowing down, breathing deeply, and holding a grateful heart. This day is more than a long weekend or the unofficial start of summer. It is a sacred reminder that freedom has never been free. It has been protected, defended, and preserved by brave men and women who answered the call, served with courage, and, for many, gave their lives for this nation.

Military service is personal to me. Many members of my own family have worn the uniform, including three of my sons and two of my grandchildren. When I think about their service, I feel pride, gratitude, and deep respect. I also think about the families who stood behind them the ones who waited, prayed, worried, and sacrificed in ways the world rarely sees.

Today, I honor those who did not come home. I honor the families who still carry their names, their memories, and their love. Their loss is woven into the fabric of our freedom, and their courage continues to echo through generations.

I give thanks for every person who has served, every family who has supported them, and every life given in defense of our freedom. Their sacrifice is not forgotten. Their legacy lives on in the liberties we enjoy, the opportunities we pursue, and the hope we carry forward.

May we never take their sacrifice lightly. May we live in a way that honors the price they paid. And may we always remember that freedom endures because brave souls were willing to stand for it.

La Wanna