Honoring Memorial Day Quotes:

Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the Armed Services make to defend our way of life.

- Robin Hayes

topic: Memorial Day, Sacrifice, Men, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

- Nathan Hale

source: Before being executed as a spy by the British, 22 September 1776, in Henry Phelps Johnston 'Nathan Hale, 1776' (1914) ch. 7.

topic: Inspirational, Life, Country, Independence Day Patriotic, American Revolution

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.

- Billy Graham

topic: Motivational, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Inspirational Courage, Memorial Day Heroes

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

source: First Inaugural Address, delivered 20 January 1953

topic: Success, Witty, Atheist, Inspirational Military, Memorial Day Poems

I consider it an indispensible duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into his Holy keeping.

- George Washington

topic: Country, Military, Lasts, Memorial Day Heroes, Valley Forge

Are they dead that yet speak louder than we can speak, and a more universal language? Are they dead that yet act? Are they dead that yet move upon society and inspire the people with nobler motives and more heroic patriotism?

- Henry Ward Beecher

topic: Military, Moving, People, Memorial Day Messages, Memorial Day Weekend

The average American is nothing if not patriotic.

- Herbert Croly

topic: Memorial Day, Patriotic, Average, Honoring Memorial Day, Honoring Veterans Memorial Day

Military power wins battles, but spiritual power wins wars.

- George C. Marshall

source: "A Toolbox for Humanity: More Than 9000 Years of Thought". Book by Lloyd Albert Johnson, 2004.

topic: Spiritual, Military, War, Memorial Day Heroes, Spiritual Power

And I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free, And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me And I'll proudly stand up next to him to defend her still today, Cuz there aint no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA

- Lee Greenwood

source: "Song: "God Bless the U.S.A."". 1984.

topic: Men, Usa, Land, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Remembrance

Freedom cannot be bestowed - it must be achieved.

- Elbert Hubbard

topic: Freedom, Independence And Freedom, Independence Day Patriotic, Independence Day, July 4th 1776

Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay, but we can honor their sacrifice.

- Barack Obama

topic: Memorial Day, Hero, Sacrifice, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Soldiers

These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor - and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free from threats of terror.

- Michael N. Castle

topic: Country, Memorial Day, Hero, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

Heroism is latent in every human soul - However humble or unknown, they (the veterans) have renounced what are accounted pleasures and cheerfully undertaken all the self-denials - privations, toils, dangers, sufferings, sicknesses, mutilations, life-long hurts and losses, death itself - for some great good, dimly seen but dearly held.

- Joshua Chamberlain

topic: Courage, Hurt, Humble, Memorial Day Messages, Memorial Day Thank You

137 years later, Memorial Day remains one of America's most cherished patriotic observances. The spirit of this day has not changed - it remains a day to honor those who died defending our freedom and democracy.

- Doc Hastings

source: FaceBook post by Doc Hastings from May 28, 2013

topic: Memorial Day, Military, Patriotic, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Thank You

They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation.

- Henry Ward Beecher

topic: Memorial Day, Clouds, Memorial, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Poems

I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism.

- Bob Riley

topic: Memorial Day, Sacrifice, Long, Memorial Day Poems, Memorial Day Soldiers

With the tears a Land hath shed. Their graves should ever be green.

- Thomas Bailey Aldrich

topic: Memorial Day, Land, Tears, Memorial Day Messages, Memorial Day Poems

A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.

- George William Curtis

source: George William Curtis (1894). “On the principles and character of American institutions, and the duties of American citizens, 1856-1891”

topic: Loyalty, Country, Memorial Day, Independence Day Patriotic, July 4

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

- Elmer Davis

topic: Veterans Day, Courage, Memories, India Independence Day, Independence Day

They fell, but o'er their glorious grave Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.

- Francis Marion Crawford

topic: Memorial Day, Causes, Graves, Banner, Memorial Day Poems

And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.

- Joseph Rodman Drake

topic: Country, Memories, Light, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Poems

I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.

- Benjamin Harrison

source: Benjamin Harrison (1893). “Public Papers and Addresses of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United States. March 4, 1889, to March 4, 1893”

topic: Uplifting, Memorial Day, Military, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world.

- Ronald Reagan

source: United States. President (1981-1989 : Reagan), United States. President (1981-1989 : Reagan)., Ronald Reagan, United States. Office of the Federal Register (1982). “Ronald Reagan”

topic: Memorial Day, Liberty, Veterans And Freedom, Veteran Memorial, Remember Memorial Day

Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.

- Richard Watson Gilder

source: Richard Watson Gilder (1900). “Five Books of Song”

topic: Veterans Day, Men, Iron, Memorial Day Poems, Memorial Day Remembrance

Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A.

- Lee Greenwood

source: Song: God Bless The U.S.A, Album: American Patriot

topic: Memorial Day, Land, Doubt, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Remembrance

All we have of freedom All we use or know This our fathers bought for us Long and long ago

- Rudyard Kipling

topic: Uplifting, Memorial Day, Freedom, Independence Day Patriotic, July 4

We must be prepared to make the same heroic sacrifices for the cause of peace that we make ungrudgingly for the cause of war.

- Albert Einstein

topic: Spiritual, Peace, War, Causes Of War, Memorial Day Messages

Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.

- Martin Luther

topic: Memorial Day, Peace, Ubuntu, Make Peace Not War, Memorial Day Remembrance

All gave some, Some gave all.

- Billy Ray Cyrus

source: Song: Some Gave All, Album: Some Gave All, 1992

topic: Happy Memorial Day, Honoring Memorial Day

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

topic: Memorial Day, Freedom, 4th Of July, Independence And Freedom, Independence Day Patriotic

Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.

- Calvin Coolidge

topic: Memorial Day, Patriotic, Men, Being A Hero, Fallen Hero

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

- John F. Kennedy

source: Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961

topic: Inspirational, Inspiring, Country, Inaugural Speech, Independence Day Patriotic

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right in America.

- William J. Clinton

topic: Memorial Day, Freedom, America, Inaugural, Inaugural Speech

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.

- Thomas Campbell

source: Thomas Campbell, J. Logie Robertson (1884). “The Complete Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell”, p.215, Ardent Media

topic: Uplifting, Memorial Day, Freedom, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Poems

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!

- Maya Angelou

topic: Veterans Day, Women, Hero, Fireman, Women Equality

Memorial Day isn't just about honoring veterans, its honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that's a reminder of when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It's a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it.

- Pete Hegseth

topic: Country, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day Messages, Memorial Day Poems

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

- Joseph Campbell

topic: Inspiring, Courage, Veterans Day, Something Bigger Than Yourself, Inspirational Military

On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation!

- Thomas William Parsons

source: Thomas William Parsons (1866). “The magnolia [verse].”, p.29

topic: Memorial Day, Fall, Rain, Memorial Day Messages, Memorial Day Poems

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.

- Harry S. Truman

topic: Country, Memorial Day, Gratitude, Memorial Day Heroes, Fallen Hero

On Memorial Day, I don't want to only remember the combatants. There were also those who came out of the trenches as writers and poets, who started preaching peace, men and women who have made this world a kinder place to live.

- Eric Burdon

topic: Memorial Day, Men, World, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Weekend

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

- John F. Kennedy

source: Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961

topic: Inspirational, Memorial Day, Freedom, Inaugural Speech, Independence And Freedom

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

- John F. Kennedy

topic: Inspirational, Thank You, Thanksgiving, I Am Thankful, Inspirational Gratitude

Better to die fighting for freedom then be a prisoner all the days of your life.

- Bob Marley

topic: Memorial Day, Freedom, Military, Love Freedom, Independence And Freedom

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.

- George Washington

topic: War, 4th Of July, Patriotism, Memorial Day Poems, Great War

The modern patriotism, the true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the Nation all the time, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it.

- Mark Twain

source: "The Czar's Soliloquy". Essay by Mark Twain, first published in The North American Review, No. DLXXX (p. 324), March 1905.

topic: Inspirational, Country, Memorial Day, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free.

- Lee Greenwood

source: Song: God Bless The U.S.A, Album: American Patriot

topic: Army, Proud, Proud To Be An American, Independence Day Patriotic, July 4th 1776

It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.

- Norman Schwarzkopf

source: Norman Schwarzkopf (2010). “It Doesn't Take a Hero: The Autobiography of General Norman Schwarzkopf”, p.13, Bantam

topic: Inspiring, Courage, Veterans Day, Soldiers At War, Inspirational Military

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.

- Benjamin Disraeli

topic: Memories, Hero, Names, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

- Desmond Tutu

topic: Memorial Day, Peace, Freedom, Soldiers At War, Individual Liberty