There are freedoms we enjoy every day that came at a cost most of us will never fully know.
On Memorial Day, we pause not to celebrate war, but to remember those who never came home. We honor the brave men and women who answered the call to serve and gave their lives in defense of our nation and the ideals we hold dear.
Their sacrifice was not measured only on distant battlefields. It is measured in the birthdays they missed, the families they left behind, the dreams they never had the opportunity to fulfill, and the future they secured for generations they would never meet.
This year, as we observe Memorial Day under the theme “For We Are Grateful,” we are reminded that gratitude is more than words. It is a commitment to remember. It is a promise that the lives of our fallen heroes will not fade from our collective memory.
Here in the Virgin Islands, we pay special tribute to the sons and daughters of these islands who wore the uniform of our nation with honor, courage, and pride. Their legacy lives on in the freedoms we enjoy, the opportunities we pursue, and the communities we continue to build.
As we gather with family and friends, attend ceremonies, visit memorials, or simply observe a moment of quiet reflection, let us remember those whose sacrifice made our way of life possible.
To the families who carry the weight of that loss every day, know that your loved ones are remembered, honored, and deeply appreciated by a grateful Territory.
Today, and always, we remember.
For we are grateful.
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