Remembering Those Who Gave Their All in Defense of Our Nation

General Patton said, “While we mourn those that we have lost, we should have joy in the fact that such men and women lived.”

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Every day as Chairwoman of the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) is an opportunity to honor our Veterans and ensure they receive the benefits they have so justly earned as defenders of our nation. On Memorial Day and during the preceding weekend, we have the solemn but honorable responsibility to remember the men and women who were Killed in Action (KIA) or listed as Missing in Action (MIA) while fighting for the land they loved. From its origins as Decoration Day, when towns across the U.S. began holding springtime observances to lay flowers on the graves of fallen warriors, to the parades and touching ceremonies of today, Memorial Day remains a cherished time for the families and communities of Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

It was a privilege to speak at my local Memorial Day ceremony in Lakeway, Texas. There is something special about gathering with your church family to remember not only the sacrifices of our Savior but also the selfless sacrifices of those who died in service to a cause much greater than themselves: the preservation of freedom. The love these men and women have for their country and the people for whom they fight makes them shining examples of what it truly means to love your neighbor. As General Patton said, “While we mourn those that we have lost, we should have joy in the fact that such men and women lived.”

As important as the men and women we have lost are the families they left behind. Our Gold Star Families deserve nothing less than our greatest reverence on Memorial Day as they honor their loved ones’ lives. Hearing from a local Gold Star Family during the ceremony was deeply moving and an experience cherished by the entire congregation. Giving up your life in service to your country requires the kind of bravery few possess, but living on as a testament to this selfless sacrifice, in the face of the deepest grief, demands strength beyond comprehension.

The VLB’s four Texas State Veterans Cemeteries also held Memorial Day ceremonies. The Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene hosted a ceremony featuring the Abilene Community Band, an appearance by the West Texas Patriot Guard Riders, and a flyover by the Big Country One Formation Flight Team. At the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi, Gold Star Wives, along with Blue Star Parents and Families, were honored, and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarships were presented to outstanding students.
At the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, United States flags were placed at the graves of KIA and MIA servicemembers, and a 21-gun salute and Taps were performed at a special off-site ceremony to honor those lost on the battlefield. The Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery had more than 200 people in attendance at its Memorial Day ceremony, and during night viewing over the weekend, the poignant melodies of “Taps” and “Amazing Grace” echoed from the cemetery’s bell tower.

All four Veterans cemeteries were open 24 hours a day during the Memorial Day weekend. At night, the gravestones of KIA and MIA warriors were illuminated in tribute to their sacrifices and to demonstrate the Texas General Land Office and VLB’s reverence for their families. Maintaining these hallowed grounds as places for families to cherish their loved ones’ memories is a year-round responsibility. Thanks to the hard-working staff at our award-winning Veterans cemeteries, families from across Texas have beautiful spaces to honor their loved ones on Memorial Day.

I encourage Texans to remember that we are the home of the free because of the brave, and never to forget that the freedom we cherish has always come at a cost.