Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex/Orleans) delivered this Memorial Day address yesterday.
I stand before you today for one reason only. It isn’t because I wanted you to hear me speak. I stand before you not because it’s a beautiful day. I stand before you not because spring is here and that the flowers are beautiful and the grass, green.
No, I stand before you to honor those who couldn’t be here today themselves. It’s not that they didn’t want to be here. It’s not because we didn’t want them to be here. They couldn’t be here because they gave the ultimate sacrifice, their lives.
They gave their lives in defense of this great country, the United States of America. They gave their lives so that this collection of 50 states could carry on with the novel idea that citizens would govern themselves. They gave their lives to defend us, the country that believes that all men and women are created equal. They gave their lives so that we could be free as a nation and stay the beacon of hope for the rest of the world.
We come here together, to join in memorial of those who have fallen; every year, we come, the last Monday of May. We come here as citizens from all walks of life. mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, grandparents, young and old. And for those who wore the uniform that are still with us, for those who have lost their friends in far off lands and despaired for them and always hoped that there loss would never be forgotten, we stand on this last Monday in May in remembrance and gratitude for your sacrifices and theirs.
And when we have passed, in our place will stand others who will never forget about those that couldn’t be here today. My Country ’tis of thee, Sweet Land of Liberty, of thee I sing; Land where my Fathers died, land of the Pilgrims’ pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.
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