Honoring Our Veterans by Being the Best American You Can Be

OPINION

The Fourth of July celebrates freedom with fireworks and fun.

On the other hand, Memorial Day calls for a somber reflection on the cost of that freedom. For many Americans, the price of freedom hits close to home, reminding them of loved ones lost in service.

On Memorial Day, many wear red poppies to honor those who sacrificed their lives for our country. This tradition originated from Poet Moina Michael’s 1918 poem “We Shall Keep the Faith,” written shortly before the end of a war.

Michael’s poem reflects her commitment to preserving the memory of the fallen and encourages others to do the same. She wrote, “We caught the Torch you threw, And, holding high, we keep the Faith/With All who died.”

By wearing poppies and continuing to serve our country, we honor the ultimate sacrifice of our warriors and maintain the faith that freedom will be upheld by future generations.

Over 100 years later, on August 26, 2021, 13 troops were killed in a terrorist attack at Abbey Gate. Their remains were sent home for burial, representing a heartbreaking loss for their families and our nation.

These brave individuals, serving in various branches of the military, were mostly in their twenties and came from different parts of the United States. Their names must be etched in history as heroes who paid the ultimate price for freedom:

• Lance Cpl. David Espinoza
• Sgt. Nicole Gee
• Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover
• Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss
• Cpl. Hunter Lopez
• Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola
• Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum
• Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui
• Cpl. Daegan Page
• Sgt. Johanny Pichardo
• Cpl. Humberto Sanchez
• Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz
• Corpsman Maxton Soviak

Their legacy will forever be intertwined with the history of America and its sacrifices.

Observing Memorial Day is a way to honor those who laid down their lives so we could live ours freely—from early American history to present times.

As a member of the Ronald Reagan – Palisades Sons of the American Legion Squadron 283, I take part in planning and participating in the Pacific Palisades Memorial Day parade.

Dozens of veterans, active duty servicemembers, and civilians march through the community, bearing 13 flags in remembrance of the heroes lost at Abbey Gate—marking the final casualties of the War on Terror.

Seventy flags stand in Veterans Gardens, representing the nearly 7,000 patriots lost in the fight against terrorism since 9/11, awaiting the final 13 flags to complete the tribute.

This Memorial Day, let us remember the fallen heroes and their commitment to God and country. Their sacrifice paved the way for the freedom we enjoy today.

By honoring their memory, we recommit ourselves to the cause of freedom and ensure that their patriotism lives on.

As Michaels urged, let us carry the torch and renew our faith in freedom each Memorial Day, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Let us choose to honor their sacrifice on Memorial Day through remembrance events and then celebrate the freedoms they fought to protect.

Live, love, and be the best American you can be in honor of those who gave everything for our country.

Hank Elder is commander of the Ronald Reagan–Palisades Sons of the American Legion Squadron 283 (2023-24) and a Pepperdine University Seaver College graduate (1981).