IFC freedom fighters, fellow Americans,
We will gather today on hallowed ground, both literally and figuratively, to observe Memorial Day. This is not a day for barbecues and sales, although those have become part of our tradition. This is a day for solemn remembrance, a day to bow our heads in gratitude for the profound selflessness of those who gave their last full measure of sacrifice in service to this nation. They fought for a vision of liberty, of self-governance, and of fundamental rights. They fought to secure a future where the promises enshrined in our founding documents would remain unbroken.
Among those promises, among those bedrock principles that define us as a free people, is the right to keep and bear arms. The Second Amendment, often debated and frequently misunderstood, stands as a testament to the wisdom of our Founders. They recognized that a truly free people, capable of defending their homes, communities, and indeed, their very liberty, must retain the means to do so. They understood that a government deriving its powers from the consent of the governed would remain so only if the people themselves held ultimate sovereignty.
The soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines we honor today did not die for a specific clause in the Constitution; they died for the entirety of the liberties it guarantees. They died so that we might continue to live in a nation where our rights, including the right to self-preservation and the right to participate in the common defense, are not merely privileges granted by the state, but inherent, God-given freedoms.
As we reflect on their sacrifice, let us remember that the freedoms they secured are not guaranteed. They require our ongoing vigilance, our steadfast commitment, and our responsible stewardship. The Second Amendment, like all our rights, is a sacred trust passed down through generations. It serves as a reminder that ultimate power rests not with the government, but with the people.
So let us honor the fallen not just with words but with our actions. Let us uphold the principles they died to defend, including the fundamental right to keep and bear arms responsibly and with respect for the law. By doing so, we ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain and that the torch of liberty, passed to us at such a terrible cost, continues to burn brightly for generations to come.
God bless our fallen heroes, and God bless the United States of America.
-Billy Wilson
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