Honoring Veterans Memorial Day Quotes:

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

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

Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.

- Sun Tzu

source: Sun Tzu “Sun Tzu: The Art of War (Illustrated)”, Charles River Editors

topic: Thank You, Veterans Day, Art, War Strategy, War Veteran

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

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

Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.

- Abraham Lincoln

topic: Country, Veterans Day, Brother, Military Soldier, Military Veteran

In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.

- Mark Twain

topic: Thank You, Memorial Day, Courage, Independence Day Patriotic, Inspirational Patriotic

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

Who kept the faith and fought the fight; The glory theirs, the duty ours.

- Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers

topic: Memories, Fighting, Glory, Memorial Day Messages, Memorial Day Poems

The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.

- George Washington

topic: Military, War, People, Memorial Day Soldiers, Military Memorial

The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.

- Minot Judson Savage

source: Minot Judson Savage (1884). “Poems of modern thought”

topic: Death, Memorial Day, Sleep, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Messages

The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.

- Socrates

topic: Life, Character, Honor, Hypocrit, Great Memorial Day

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 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

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

They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast, And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

topic: Memorial Day, Names, Honor, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Poems

They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation.

- Henry Ward Beecher

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

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

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

- Bob Riley

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

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

Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.

- Michel de Montaigne

topic: Memorial Day, Courage, Veterans Day, Memorial Day Thank You, War Veteran

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

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

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

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

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

You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.

- Aristotle

topic: Inspirational, Encouraging, Confidence, Leadership Courage, Moral Excellence

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

The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.

- Jeff Miller

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

If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen.

- Ronald Reagan

topic: Love, Country, Memorial Day, Countrymen, Honoring Veterans Memorial Day

The average American is nothing if not patriotic.

- Herbert Croly

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

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

- Calvin Coolidge

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

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

There never was a good war or a bad revolution.

- Edward Abbey

source: Edward Abbey (1998). “The Fool's Progress: An Honest Novel”, p.140, Macmillan

topic: Veterans Day, Peace, War, Causes Of War, War Cry

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

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

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

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.

- George S. Patton

source: Speech at the Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, on June 07, 1945. "Patton, ordeal and triumph". Book by Ladislas Farago, 1963.

topic: Death, Wisdom, Memorial Day, Someone Who Is Dying, Inspirational Condolences

Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

topic: Life, Change, Wise, Military History, Military Leader

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, Is their monument to-day, and for aye.

- Thomas Dunn English

source: Thomas Dunn English (1885). “The Boy's Book of Battle-lyrics: A Collection of Verses Illustrating Some Notable Events in the History of the United States of America, from the Colonial Period to the Outbreak of the Sectional War”

topic: Country, 4th Of July, Monument, Memorial Day Messages, Memorial Day Poems

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