Memorial Day 2014

This year, 2014, marks the last year we will have combat troops in a war zone in Afghanistan as our troops will be home by the end of the year and the 13-year long war will be over.  Please take a moment today to say a prayer for those who sacrificed it all over the years for all of us to be free.  

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III send the following Memorial Day message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force and their families:

On May 30, 1868, the first official Memorial Day observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery to honor and to decorate the graves of those who died during the Civil War. Today, Memorial Day serves as an opportunity to pause and remember the sacrifices of more than one million Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who gave their lives to secure our freedoms.

As we remember our fallen, captured, or missing service men and women, we also express our gratitude to those who are currently defending our Nation. Among our all-volunteer force serving today, more than 75 percent of our Airmen joined the Air Force after 9/11 and have never known a peacetime military. The men and women who answered the call by saying, "Send me," exemplify the core value of Service Before Self.

In addition to recognizing the service of our Airmen and fellow service members, we pay tribute to the families of the fallen, as well as to our wounded warriors and their families. For these families -- the husbands and wives, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers -- every day is Memorial Day. To the loved ones of our fallen, captured, or missing service men and women, we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.

On this day of remembrance, as we honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion serving our nation, we affirm our commitment to military family survivors, as well as to our wounded warriors and their families. To all of our Airmen, serving at home or abroad, please know that your sacrifices do not go unnoticed. We are grateful for your service and are privileged to stand with you, by you, and for you.

This is a day we honor our men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  We must never forget their sacrifice or those of their family and friends.  Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist sums it up in his email message today:

Thank You was Never Enough 

Sharon -- The single hardest moments serving as Governor were when I met with the families of our Florida brothers and sisters who were killed in service of our country. Every single one of them volunteered for duty. Many were the families of National Guardsmen, who by day were teachers, cops, bankers, and other members of our community -- and by night, they did heroic things to defend the freedoms we all enjoy. They all believed that defending an ideal was more important than their own lives.  They are heroes to all of us, including their families. But they are also parents, siblings, children, friends, and neighbors. A grateful nation can never fill the void they left behind.  I never knew the right words to say to those families. "Thank you" could never fully express both the sorrow and gratitude for their sacrifice. Everything we do is because of those who gave their lives to our country.  So on this Memorial Day, let's all try to commit ourselves to honor their sacrifice a little more -- not just today, but everyday. Thank a soldier in an airport. Greet the woman wearing the "Proud Army Mom" t-shirt. Buy an extra baked good at the local VFW.  Treat each other with a little more respect.  And most importantly, be grateful and forever humbled by those who love their country so much that they would die for all of us. God bless their memories,  Charlie