To many Americans, Memorial Day has come to represent the kick-off of summer, a season of barbecue, beaches and vacations. But the original intent behind the holiday, officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, was to set aside time to pause and remember the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation.

Here are a few quotes that help represent the meaning of Memorial Day:

“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
– George Washington

“The best road to progress is freedom’s road.”
– John F. Kennedy

“There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will
have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again
and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.”
– Nelson Mandela

“Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the
arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral
courage of free men and women.”
– Ronald Reagan

On the last Monday in May, let’s celebrate Memorial Day – remembering the men and women of the armed forces, honoring their legacy, and giving thanks for their sacrifices.