Memorial Weekend 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

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 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

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

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

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 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

Decoration Day is the most beautiful of our national holidays.... The grim cannon have turned into palm branches, and the shell and shrapnel into peach blossoms.

- Thomas Bailey Aldrich

topic: Beautiful, Military, Holiday, Decoration, Memorial Day Messages

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

They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation.

- Henry Ward Beecher

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

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 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

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

Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations, that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of a free and undivided Republic.

- John A. Logan

source: "Memorial Day Order" by John A. Logan, www.cem.va.gov. May 5, 1868.

topic: Uplifting, Memorial Day, People, Memorial Day Poems, Memorial Day Weekend

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

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

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

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

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.

- William Penn

topic: Sympathy, Death, Time, Inspirational Bereavement, Inspirational Condolences

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

These martyrs of patriotism gave their lives for an idea.

- Schuyler Colfax

topic: Memorial Day, Ideas, Memorial, Memorial Day Remembrance, Memorial Weekend

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

Fold him in his country's stars. Roll the drum and fire the volley! What to him are all our wars, What but death bemocking folly?

- George Henry Boker

source: George Henry Boker (1864). “Poems of the War”, p.169

topic: Country, Memorial Day, Stars, Memorial Day Poems, Memorial Day Remembrance

Peace to each manly soul that sleepeth; Rest to each faithful eye that weepeth.

- Thomas Moore

source: Thomas Moore (1850). “The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore”, p.177

topic: Uplifting, Memorial Day, Eye, Memorial Day Soldiers, Memorial Day Weekend

Our cheer goes back to them, the valiant dead! Laurels and roses on their graves to-day, lilies and laurels over them we lay, and violets o'er each unforgotten head.

- Richard Hovey

source: Richard Hovey (1908). “Along the Trail”

topic: Memorial Day, Cheer, Rose, Memorial Day Messages, Memorial Day Poems

Freedom of speech and freedom of action are meaningless without freedom to think. And there is no freedom of thought without doubt.

- Bergen Evans

topic: Memorial Day, Thinking, Freedom Of Speech, Memorial Day Poems, Memorial Day Remembrance

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

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

- Barry Goldwater

source: Speech accepting nomination for president at Republican National Convention, San Francisco, Cal., 16 July 1964

topic: Freedom, Gay, Justice, Memorial Day Poems, Memorial Weekend

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

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

"Dead upon the field of glory," Hero fit for song and story.

- John R. Thompson

topic: Memorial Day, Song, Hero, Memorial Day Heroes, Memorial Day Remembrance

If you threw a barbecue yesterday for the Memorial weekend, it was 29 percent more expensive than last year because Barack Obama's policies have led to groceries going up 29 percent.

- Michele Bachmann

topic: Weekend, Years, Yesterday, Memorial Weekend