Volunteer armed forces protect American freedom valiantly
America’s hallowed military cemeteries are filled with the remains of hundreds of thousands, both those who were drafted to the cause and those who volunteered. Each deserves the utmost respect and veneration, not only on Memorial Day but always, The Deseret News Editorial Board writes.
This Memorial Day comes in a year that marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the draft, which was last used during the Vietnam War. It is fitting — the editorial board opines — that the United States today has an all-volunteer armed forces, because a free land ought to be able to easily recruit volunteers to defend something so precious and important.
However, today, recruitment is down. Though this may be the result of the global pandemic, the editorial board expresses its hope that it doesn’t signal a long-term trend.
Read more about what The Deseret News Editorial Board had to say about the importance of a volunteer army.
On this Memorial Day, we asked the members of Utah’s congressional delegation to share with us why this day is important to them. Here are portions of what each had to say:
Sen. Mike Lee: "Recognizing Memorial Day is not only an act of remembrance, but a solemn obligation to honor the lives lost in service to our country."
Sen. Mitt Romney: "This Memorial Day, let the sacrifices our fellow Americans have made and continue to make serve as a reminder that we must work together to heal the divisions among us[.]"
Rep. Blake Moore, 1st Congressional District: "Memorial Day allows us to stop and reflect on the profound sacrifices our fallen servicemembers made for our freedoms. It is a reminder that there is far more that unites us than divides us[.]"
Rep. Chris Stewart, 2nd Congressional District: "I proudly served our nation in uniform for 14 years, as did many of my brothers and our father before us. There is no higher honor than defending our right to ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.’"
Rep. John Curtis, 3rd Congressional District: "[E]very freedom we enjoy is built on the sacrifice of these brave individuals and we take the opportunity to express our deepest and most profound gratitude to those who have fallen in the service of our country."
Rep. Burgess Owens, 4th Congressional District: "On Memorial Day, we honor and celebrate the unmatched and selfless service of our fallen heroes to protect the life and liberty of every American, regardless of their race, religion or ZIP code.”
Read more to see the full response from each member of Utah's congressional delegation.
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