Pelosi Statement in Observance of Memorial Day

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Caroline Behringer, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 29:

"Each Memorial Day, we pause to remember the men and women who answered the call to serve and made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Their service is a testament to our highest American ideals; their sacrifice is a solemn reminder that our nation's freedom and security are safeguarded by those willing to risk all for country, both in wartime and in peace.

"Today, we partake in a tradition first created to honor those who fell not in faraway lands, but in battlefields in our own young nation. We remember them, and salute the more than one million more soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have lost their lives in service of their country since. This is a day for sharing their stories, celebrating their lives and honoring their memories.

"President John F. Kennedy, a veteran and great leader, reminded us all that, ‘The highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.' In that spirit, we must act strongly and swiftly to care for the families of our fallen heroes and the veterans who served with them. To honor the memories of the fallen, we must not forget those who still stand beside us."

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