Arlington National Cemetery has always held a special place in my heart, even before I set foot there as a young adult two decades ago. It’s a place where dignity and respect reign supreme. But it became deeply personal for me after my brigade returned from Afghanistan in 2012, especially since one of our own was laid to rest there.
Every time I visit the hills overlooking Washington, D.C., I make sure to stop by his grave. We weren’t close, serving in different parts of the unit, but I remember the day I heard of his passing. On June 1, 2012, the Haqqani network launched an attack against us at Forward Operating Base Salerno, resulting in the deaths of two civilian workers and all enemy fighters involved.
As the sun set that day, we held onto hope that we’d made it through without losing a single soldier from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. Unfortunately, we later learned one of ours had succumbed to injuries sustained while fighting back. That deployment was challenging, especially since President Obama had already announced plans for a full withdrawal. Many of us couldn’t help but question our purpose there if it seemed like we were just biding time.
Soldiers across generations have faced similar doubts. Whether they voice it or not, the question of what American troops die for lingers. Some might say freedom, liberty, or the Constitution, but I’ve never met a soldier risking it all for a progressive social agenda.
No combat veteran has ever said they joined the military to see churches closed, Christians labeled as extremists, or taxpayer-funded libraries hosting drag queen story hours. No one charged into battle to promote no-fault divorces or protect industries like pornography and gambling. No soldier ever thought, “My death would be a small price for a nation that celebrates adultery without consequence.”
We’ve become a nation where vice is not just accepted but dominant. As we sent troops abroad on missions with no clear ties to American security, our own borders weakened, and our values eroded. As my 20-year military career ended in 2023, I couldn’t help but wonder what it was all for. It wasn’t so that those of us who cherish Constitutional principles would feel like strangers in our own land.
Standing at the graves of those who died for the Constitution, how can we claim to honor their sacrifice while undermining the country they fought for? They paid the ultimate price. We owe it to them to live in a way that upholds their legacy and fights against cultural currents that pull us away from the ideals they defended.
At the very least, we should strive to be individuals, communities, and a nation worthy of their sacrifice. We should avoid being the cowards in the fight that British poet Charles Mackay warned about. This Memorial Day, there are countless ways to honor those who died serving our nation.
Celebrating with loved ones and enjoying a barbecue is perfectly fine. But what matters more is living by the values we claim to honor. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. If your lifestyle prioritizes selfish individualism and rejects America’s founding principles, your tributes to the fallen ring hollow.
This Memorial Day, aim to live a life that the fallen would salute. Choose to be a person, a community, and a nation worthy of their sacrifice. That’s how we genuinely honor them and pass on the lesson to future generations.
