Dear American Heroes: We Remember You This Memorial Day

TEXAS -- This upcoming weekend, people all over Longview and Tyler, Texas, take the time to rest, spend time with family, and most importantly--remember those East Texans who gave the ultimate gift to preserve the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I feel like Memorial Day weekend has come upon us so suddenly this year. Time just feels like it's flying, y'all. However, no matter what is going on, honoring American heroes who have given everything to protect this beloved nation of ours is always a top priority.

Memorial Day Weekend Hits Differently for Many Families

Many heroes have fallen in the service of our nation. And, like many of you, I have dear friends who have experienced the loss of their nearest and dearest.

Several years ago, a friend of mine lost her son. She is strong and faces the loss with beauty, honor, and dignity. But, I know in her quiet moments she mourns the loss of this young man who gave his life.

She remembers that he was once simply the little boy at her side on a Saturday morning, the one to whom she read bedtime stories when he couldn't fall asleep, and the son she took to the fair for the first time when he was five years old. Her baby boy became a man and then became an American hero.

Behind Every Fallen Hero Is a Family Story

Even though I have never met him, I can imagine the waves of emotion that must come over her regularly. Unless we've been personally affected by the great cost of our wars and the price of freedom, the real reason we reflect on Memorial Day can fade into the background of festive flags, holiday sales, and cookouts.

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Now, I think those things are wonderful. I really do. Our American heroes died to protect our freedom and our American way of life. It is right that we gather, remember, and share time with loved ones.

Why Memorial Day Still Matters in East Texas

At the same time, when we hear the personal stories of our friends and neighbors, we feel the weight of the loss more palpably. We can imagine how they must feel when they wake up and remember every single day. As we honor our fallen as a nation, we also remember the countless families who are feeling both pride and heartbreak during this long weekend.

A Reminder to Pause and Remember

So, I suppose this is our reminder to remember this weekend. And listen, if you've lost a loved one who has sacrificed his or her life for America, I want you to know we are thinking of you. Please allow us to express our gratitude and our hearts to you and through you to your son, your daughter, your husband, your father, your sisters, or your brothers. May the sacrifice they made on behalf of the United States of America echo throughout time. Thank you. Thank you.

Dear American Heroes: We Remember You. Thank you.