From the Revolution to modern times, generations of Americans have given their lives in defense of freedom.
Memorial Day exists to remember them, reflect on the freedoms they helped preserve, and renew our gratitude for their sacrifice.
One of those Americans was Jonas Parker, a Massachusetts farmer and militia member who took up his musket and joined his neighbors on Lexington Green to defend the freedoms he believed were worth preserving.
Parker became one of the first Americans to give what President Abraham Lincoln later called “the last full measure of devotion.”
This month is a time to remember Americans like him. Ordinary men and women who sacrificed their lives so we could live free.
The high price of freedom
The death of Parker at Lexington marked the beginning of a long and difficult war for independence. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Continental Army fought for the promise of liberty and self-governance.
Thousands of Americans gave their lives in the fight, but the country struggled to fully live up to its founding principles.
A nation tested
By 1861, a new generation of Americans was once again fighting for liberty. This time, they took up arms to determine the future of slavery and test our founding principles.
After immense bloodshed and sacrifice, America emerged again as one nation, committed to the principle that all men are created equal.
At Gettysburg, President Lincoln challenged the living not only to remember the fallen, but to carry forward the cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion.
“The Greatest Generation” answers the call
Nearly 80 years after Gettysburg, Americans were again called to defend freedom as Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan spread war, atrocities, and totalitarian rule across Europe and the Pacific.
After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, millions of Americans rose to meet the challenge. Many were teenagers who had never left their hometowns.
From Normandy to the Pacific, Americans fought some of the deadliest battles of World War II. More than 400,000 Americans gave their lives in a war that helped defeat tyranny and preserve freedom for future generations.
What Memorial Day is really about
Memorial Day is more than the unofficial start of summer. It is a time to remember the Americans who gave their lives in defense of the freedoms we now enjoy.
We honor their sacrifice through remembrance and gratitude for all they gave.
This Memorial Day, take one small step to carry forward their legacy. Recite the Pledge of Allegiance with intention at home, with your family, or in your community. Place your hand over your heart and reflect on the generations of Americans who gave their last full measure of devotion in defense of freedom.
For more than a century, Americans have recited the Pledge of Allegiance as a reaffirmation of the principles that unite us: liberty, equality, and self-government.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, join Americans across the country in renewing your commitment to the ideals that built this nation.
This one small step can be a meaningful way to honor their sacrifice and express gratitude for all they gave in defense of freedom.
Learn more with May’s “One Small Step” toolkit.