By Senator Tom Brewer
Memorial Day weekend is upon us. This day we honor those who died in the line of duty wearing the uniform of our country. To the family and friends of loved ones I say, may God bless you. There are over four thousand “Gold Star” families in Nebraska. Memorial Day is the special day we remember your sacrifice.
Regardless of the branch or component, active-duty or reserve or National Guard, whether someone had a 30-year career or were drafted, these are the Americans who gave of themselves in service to our nation. As the old saying goes, all gave some; some gave all. For those we lost in the line of duty, they are who we honor this weekend.
Families across the state are gathering Monday to attend Memorial Day services. Values, along with cherished American traditions and observances are being taught to the next generation. I think this mentoring experience is important to our American culture. We are a unified country with a sense of national identity because we are bound together by a mutual gratitude for those who gave their lives in service to our country. I have spent a long time in countries whose people do not have a national identity, and they are hellscapes.
That sense of national gratitude must be passed-down, one generation to the next. Like President Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
Every Memorial Day I re-read a letter sent during the Civil War by President Lincoln to a Mrs. Bixby of Boston. In the spirit of Memorial Day I thought I would close this weekly update with this letter.
Dear Madam,
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, or concerns. Email me at tbrewer@leg.ne.gov, mail a letter to Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1423, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, or call us at (402) 471-2628.