The Price of Freedom: What We Owe Our Fallen Heroes This Memorial Day

Honoring the fallen means more than remembrance—it means defending the freedom they died for.

Memorial Day is more than a long weekend. It’s not just a signal that summer is beginning or an excuse to fire up the grill.

It’s a sacred day of remembrance—a moment carved out of our busy lives to pause, reflect, and honor the men and women who gave everything so that we could live in freedom.

It’s easy, in a society as fast-paced and comfort-driven as ours…to take that freedom for granted. But behind every barbecue…every beach day…every peaceful protest…very vote cast…and every headline debated over morning coffee—there is blood.

There is sacrifice. There is a family who never got their son…daughter…husband…or wife back. There is a folded flag…a 21-gun salute…and a silent dinner table where someone used to sit.

We owe everything to these men and women. And today…we remember them.

But remembrance, while essential…is only the beginning. The real question is: How do we honor them?

Because memory without action is hollow. Words without responsibility are cheap.

And in this moment—right now in the United States—there is a creeping threat to the very democracy and freedom these heroes died defending.

Freedom Isn’t Free—And It’s Not Guaranteed

Every generation must choose whether to uphold or abandon the values that make this country worth fighting for.

The Constitution, for all its brilliance…is just parchment without people who are willing to defend the ideals behind it: liberty, justice, equal protection, free speech, and the rule of law.

Our fallen veterans took that responsibility seriously. They didn’t serve for a party or a politician. They served for a principle—that this nation…flawed and unfinished as it is…was worth protecting.

And yet, we find ourselves at a dangerous crossroads.

Democracy is under siege—not from foreign invaders this time…but from within.

From those who would rather dismantle institutions than accept defeat. From leaders who see truth as optional and power as an end in itself. From a movement that confuses loyalty to one man with loyalty to the country.

This isn’t a partisan argument—it’s a patriotic one.

Because patriotism means loving your country enough to tell the truth about it.

And the truth is this: we are flirting with the kind of authoritarianism our veterans died trying to stop.

What We Have to Be Thankful For

As we reflect today, we should remember not only the cost of freedom…but the richness of the gift we’ve been given.

We wake up in a nation where we can worship freely…speak openly…assemble publicly…and vote regularly. We can challenge our leaders. We can criticize our laws. We can build movements, tell stories, and create change…for now.

These rights are not normal. They are not universal. They are rare. And they were bought at a high price.

We don’t just inherit freedom. We steward it. And if we allow it to be casually tossed away in a haze of propaganda…grievance…and fear—then we don’t deserve it.

The Human Cost: Remembering David Collins

Among the thousands we honor this Memorial Day is someone I knew personally—Navy SEAL David Collins.

David was the embodiment of strength, loyalty, and quiet service. He came home from the wars he fought in—but the war never left him.

He endured repeated blast waves during combat—trauma that ravaged his brain in ways that science is still struggling to fully understand. And though he wore no visible wounds…he was suffering every day.

Eventually, that pain took its toll. David took his own life.

But even in death, he made one final sacrifice: he donated his brain to science…hoping that future veterans might be saved from the same silent torment. That act—selfless, generous, and brave—was his last mission.

We honor all who made the ultimate sacrifice—but today, I honor David Collins… specifically. He was a warrior…a brother…and a hero in the truest sense.

And like all those we remember today…he deserves more than a moment of silence. He deserves a country worthy of his sacrifice.

How We Honor Them Now

So how do we do that?

We start by protecting what they died for.

• We speak out when lies threaten to drown truth.

• We vote not with party loyalty, but with moral clarity.

• We reject extremism on both ends of the spectrum and defend the rule of law—even when it’s inconvenient.

• We challenge disinformation.

• We push back against efforts to silence dissent or consolidate power.

• We remember that democracy isn't a given—it’s a choice, made over and over again, in moments large and small.

To honor our fallen means standing up for the ideals they laid down their lives for.

It means refusing to normalize corruption, bigotry, and authoritarianism. It means choosing principle over personality…country over cult…and truth over tribe.

We don't need to be perfect citizens. But we do need to be engaged ones.

A Sacred Duty

Memorial Day asks us to remember the dead. But it also invites the living to reflect on our role in carrying their legacy forward.

This isn’t just about military service. It’s about civic responsibility. It’s about refusing to be lulled into apathy or comfort while the foundations of freedom crack beneath our feet. It’s about standing guard—with vigilance, courage, and clarity.

We owe them that. At the very least.

So as you gather with loved ones…enjoy the sunshine…and take a well-earned break this weekend…take a moment to truly think about what’s been given—and what’s at stake.

Remember the fallen.

Honor the sacrifice.

And recommit yourself to the fight for a democracy worthy of their blood.

Because the moment we forget what they died for is the moment we begin to lose it.

If this message resonates with you, share it. Forward it. Talk about it. And above all—live it. Freedom isn't just a memory. It's a responsibility.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the rest of this Memorial Day.

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Warmly,

Jack Hopkins