Honoring their service

Memorial Day 2020 comes amid a uniquely challenging time in our nation’s history, but, as Vermont Gov. Phil Scott expressed today, it could be a particularly fitting time to reflect on the example of those who served the country and made the ultimate sacrifice. 

And so, though many traditional events were not possible today, we persist in recognizing the heroes who fought for our people and our values, and never returned home. We join together in our current struggle, because they stood guard over the nation during the world’s most difficult days. 

“These men and women are the best example of what it means to be an American. Those who stood to fight so the rest of us can live in the safety and security of a free world. Those who sacrificed and died so others may live,” Scott said in his Memorial Day statement.

He continued, “I believe that today, as we navigate through this once-in-a-century crisis, the word sacrifice means a lot more as we unite to fight a new kind of enemy — one that threatens all of us.

“Perhaps there is no better time than now to reflect on the example of those who faced far darker days, but rose to the occasion, so that we might be here now to face our own challenge, together.”

Over the last two months, numerous others have joined our country’s long tradition of sacrifice amid adversity, and thousands have been lost to the pandemic. Many more are continuing to help the nation through this time, in ways big and small. Today, we are reminded how important it is to remember those who came before us and defended the country, so we could be here and proudly serve causes greater than ourselves. Going forward, we can honor them by working for the unity of this nation, even that seems so difficult. Together, is always stronger. 

— Gareth Henderson