History Lessons: "We Are Here For Them."

Carol Harper

When I visited Washington D.C. in November and walked through Arlingon National Cemetery, nothing could prepare me for the vast amount of graves. The above photo is just one section of the entire cemetery, and there was a point on our walk where myself and fellow Stars of Life friends fell silent. The reverence. The awe. There are no words.

At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was where it really hit home: The living...ourselves and the crowd around us...and the unknown dead. The Marines changing guard, keeping constant watch. Being there in person made a lasting impact on me.

This last Saturday I assisted the American Legion and VFW with putting Memorial Day flags next to the graves of our fallen heroes. My section included my Grandpa Stephen A. Starks (WWI). My birth grandfather, Frank Quintana, was a pilot in WWII, and all I remember is seeing the newspaper clipping of his obituary. My birth father was in both the Navy and the Marines, and served in Vietnam.  My uncle Jim Starks served in the Army 82nd Airborne Division, and my uncle Ralph Starks served in the Navy (Korean War) as a radarman on the U.S.S. Tingey, and in his obituary, it reads: "Though Ralph was proud of his service, he was equally troubled that the path of war is often too quickly chosen by nations."

I had a lot of flags to place in my section of Mountain View cemetery, and I was able to place all of them...except for one. I searched everywhere, and knew I was in the right place, but a headstone or plaque was nowhere to be found. As I narrowed my search down, I noticed a rectangular patch of dry grass in a space between all of the graves, as if it would be a place where a plaque would be laid, but there were no other identifying factors for the name on my list. So I placed the flag next to the patch of dry grass, and stood there in silence.

As I got ready to leave, I stood back and viewed my entire section and said a prayer, and on my drive home, my thoughts flooded back to Arlington and all of the tombstones. The names of those MIA. The countless lives lost. That freedom comes at a great cost, and that I am here, now...living and breathing in what I believe to be the most beautiful state in the nation. 

The weather was perfect for today's Memorial Day service. The speech that Commander Nancy Eustice delivered was beautiful, and rather than summarize, I would like to share it with you below. Whereas I had, and to this day, have no words to describe the ultimate sacrifices made for all of us, here they are:

Veterans, Family, Friends, and Honored Guests,

Since the founding of the United States 250 years ago, it is estimated that more than 558 million Americans and immigrants have called this nation home. More than 1.1 million of them have died defending the United States in wars and combat actions since the American Revolution. Each one had a story. Each one had a family. Each one left behind a legacy of service and sacrifice.

The crosses at Normandy. The graves at Arlington.

The 1,885 to 1,900 Wyomingites who have given their lives in defense of our nation since statehood in 1890. And the fallen heroes who rest in places unknown.

We are here for them.

How could we not be moved by the breathtaking sacrifices that generations of Americans have made--and continue to make--on our behalf?

We do not forget, because we are here for them.

For 250 years, Americans have answered the call to defend liberty, preserve freedom, and protect the ideals upon which this nation was founded. Throughout that history, Wyoming's sons and daughters have proundly stood among them.

This year, as we commemorate 250 years of American independence, we honor their service, remember their sacrifice, and reaffirm our commitment to preserving the freedoms they helped secure.

We are here for them.

From those who threw themselves upon grenades to save their comrades, to those who gave their lives rescuing shipmates from the sea, this day reminds us that ordinary Americans have often displayed extraordinary courage.

Yet Memorial Day is not only about those who fell on distant battlefields. It is also about those left behind.

We must never forget the families of our fallen. Long after the guns have fallen silent and the bombs have stopped exploding, children still miss a parent. Spouses continue their lives without their partners. Parents carry the grief of their sons and daughters taken far too soon.

As Americans, we have a responsibility to be present for them. While no one can replace their loved ones, we can offer compassion, support, and the assurance that their sacrificies--and the sacrifices of those they lost--will never be forgotten.

We are here for them.

While many of us will enjoy time with family and friends this Memorial Day weekend, we must remember the price that was paid for the freedoms we enjoy and the American way of life we often take for granted.

Remembering and honoring those who did not come home is the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Let us remember that freedom has no greater friend than the American Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, and Space Force Guardian.

The truest way to honor the fallen is to live lives worthy of their sacrifice. That means stregnthening our communities, helping our fellow veterans, supporting military families, and teaching the next generation whaet this day truly means.

We must tell their stories. We must say their names.

We must ensure that our children and grandchildren understand that the freedoms they inherited were paid for with courage, service and sacrifice.

We are here for them. For those who served. For those who sacrificed. For those who never came home. For the families who carry their memory forward...

We are here for them.

Thank you, God bless America, God bless our Veterans, and God bless our Gold Star families.