Dear neighbors,

Memorial Day brings together families, friends, colleagues and communities. We usher in summer with picnics, barbecues, a dip in the pool and leisure. It is important, however, that we remember this day for the people it honors: the women and men who have given their lives in defense of our freedoms.

Fewer than one in a hundred Americans serves in the armed forces. We owe them an outsized debt of gratitude. Those who have fallen  --more than a million since the founding of our country-- are due our lasting respect and a sacred place in our memories. Their families, too, have earned our compassion. When you hear a bugle sounding Taps, know that among us are many people for whom those notes memorialize the final farewell to a loved one.

President John F. Kennedy told us that our nation is defined by who we remember and honor. On Memorial Day, please take a moment to pay respects to the women and men who sacrificed their lives for us. If you know a family who lost someone in service to our country, reach out and let them know their hero is in your thoughts.

If you have lost someone, I hope you find peace on this solemn day. We seek to uplift you by honoring your loved one.

Gather, celebrate, commemorate and have a safe Memorial Day.

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In service,

Vince

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