As Memorial Day approaches, it is time to pause and consider the true meaning of this holiday. Memorial Day represents one day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. While we should honor these heroes every day for the profound contribution they have made to securing our Nation's freedom, we should honor them especially on Memorial Day. This is a day our country has set apart to remember what was gained in our wars, and all that was lost. Our wars have won for us every hour we live in freedom. Our wars have taken from us the men and women we honor today, and every hour of the lifetimes they had hoped to live.
Every Memorial Day, Americans remember the debt of gratitude we owe to our veterans who gave their lives for our country. On this important day, communities across our Nation stop to remember and to honor the great sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform.
The tradition of Memorial Day reinforces our Nation's resolve to never forget those who gave their last full measure for America. As we engage in the war against terrorism, we also pray for peace.
We continue to rely on our brave and steadfast men and women in uniform to defend our freedom. United as a people, we pray for peace throughout the world. We also pray for the safety of our troops.
As we commemorate this noble American holiday, I would like to give you the opportunity to honor those who fell in defense of freedom. Please feel free to submit a cherished memory or favorite story below, and I will be sure to share it on this web page.
Last Veterans Day I was in attendance at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor while my anthem for the Statue of Liberty "Lady By The Sea" was being performed in a small concert given by the Newburgh Free academy. At that time during a casual Conversation with a prominant member of the Hall I was asked if I could write a theme for the Hall of honors. This I did and the song "Purple Hearted Heroes"was composed in a few days and since then has been performed twice by the New York Military Academy at the Hall of honors in New Windsor NY and also sung by Patricia Sofokles during the opening ceremony at General Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh NY this Memorial day. It has now been endorsed by Mayor Nicholas Valentine of the city of Newburgh and will be presented to the city council to make it the official Anthem for the Purple Hearts in Newburgh and Performed every year at the service along with the National Anthem. No one can Know the amount of pride and gratitude I have that my song has been selected to honor our fallen and disabled veterans with being a vietnam Era veteran myself. I had a wonderful Memorial day along with my two teenage sons. They Beamed with Pride for their Dad. May God Bless us all in these times and forever more. Warren Barootjian AKA Warren Michaels.