Memorial Day—a day when our nation celebrates the men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Those who embody the American Dream have two distinct traits—courage and the willingness to preserve freedom, both domestically and beyond.

One of the most solemn monuments I’ve seen is the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C. I remember my astonishment of the vast number of men and women who perished—nearly 37,000 American military members. Additionally, there were over 100,000 wounded in combat during this “Forgotten War” as some call it.

I remember two impressing inscriptions at the memorial. First, “Freedom is not Free,” and second, “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.” Such powerful words. It is good seed to be willing to give up one’s own freedoms to preserve the same for others. Over the course of modern history, American military men and women have repeatedly met evil at its doorstep. They have aided our allies and have prevented tyranny from landing on our shores.

A Call for Introspection

As we proudly remember our courageous heroes this Memorial Day, 2019, I want us all to learn from these brave men and women. At this pivotal time in our nation’s history, where divisiveness reigns, I believe we can ask ourselves some important questions. Why are we called “the land of the free and the home of the brave?” Freedom and bravery—there’s a reason we sing of them in our national anthem. We are free because we are brave.

Bravery comes in many forms, not only in wearing a uniform and serving one’s country. It is the courageous person who thrives, grows, and bears fruit in a free environment. What does bravery look like for you? Are you willing to take risks to preserve our freedoms? Again, preservation occurs more than on the battlefield—it transpires in our acts of courage during our everyday realms of influence.

May God bless the legacies and families of our fallen veterans and our nation.