05/25/2026
Rex Hogue -- On Veteran’s Day, November 11, we honor living veterans who served in the military. On Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May, we honor those currently serving. What is Memorial Day all about? While Memorial Day is a holiday, it’s not a day of celebration. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance when we remember those who died serving our country. It’s a national holiday that started after the War Between the States. It’s a time to remember those whose service to our nation cost them their lives.
Gen. George Patton said, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May to honor those who sacrificed their lives for their country – our country if you are an US citizen. Today we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. This holiday means something different to those families. Those families don’t see this as a day to celebrate. They remember the empty seat at the table, the husband, father, or son who won’t be coming home to be with family. Or it could be the wife, mother, or daughter who won’t be coming home.
It’s a 3-day weekend for most of us. Picnics and get togethers with family and friends are common. There is nothing wrong with that. It’s OK to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy, even though we have July 4 for that. As Americans, we can celebrate our freedoms every day! But today, let’s remember why we have this day as a holiday. This is the day we honor those who paid the ultimate price so we could enjoy the freedoms for which they gave their lives.
I’ve not been directly affected by very many who have died serving our nation. One friend, Dale Klein, for days will post people he is specifically remembering. In 1977, we were both first year tuba players in the Texas Tech band. Dale, I read every one of those – thank you for doing that!
There are two servicemen who gave their lives for our nation who I specifically remember on this day. The first one was a cousin I never met but heard of my whole life -- PFC Walter Ray Whitaker, USMC, who gave his life on Iwo Jima in 1945. He was killed two days after the famous flag raising. In 2019, we went to Hawaii and went to the Punch Bowl (a military cemetery). My brother Jon and I and our wives all went. Dottie was the first to find Walter Ray’s grave. I first remember hearing his story when I was only 5, and I heard a lot about him. Seeing his grave brought tears to my eyes.
The second one I remember was a friend and law school classmate, Lt. Mark Jackson, USN. Mark was one of my study partners. He died in the Gulf War in March 1991. He left a 7-month-old boy, who will never remember his dad.
Since the founding of the USA, around 1.5 million men and women in our armed forces have made the ultimate sacrifice, by giving their lives in battle, to preserve our freedoms. Many died in beach invasions. In recent years, I’ve seen meme’s that remind us we get to enjoy a day at the beach because Americans stormed beaches in Europe and the Pacific. Many of those men died during those wars. Those who died while storming those beaches didn’t enjoy their day at the beach. Because of their sacrifice, we get to enjoy a lot of things -- the vacation, the cookout, the time spent with family or friends, the ball game, or whatever it is that you do with today, including enjoying a day at the beach like those killed on those beaches did not.
On Facebook, I’ve seen a picture of a young military widow stretched out on a blanket with a baby. She was (presumably) by her husband’s grave. That’s sobering.
May 4 is National Firefighter Memorial Day. May 15 is Police Memorial Day. On this day, I also honor our first responders who died serving their communities. Since the USA is made up of communities, they died serving our nation as well.
It is for the sacrifices of those who didn’t come home that we stand for the National Anthem. They died defending what our nation stands for. The least we could do is stand to honor them when our National Anthem is played when we are in any public setting. I personally will listen to several versions of the National Anthem today. I never tire of hearing it.
As I put out my American flag this morning, it was quiet, still, and sunny. Normally when I fly the American flag, I have a great sense of pride. I don’t fly it every day – only on special occasions. But today, I felt a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I thought of why I was flying the flag. I paused briefly to make sure it is unfurled properly. It looks like a beautiful day, though we have likely rain coming this afternoon. Here is my prayer for today.
“Lord, thank you for allowing me to live in this great nation. Since I can’t thank those who gave their lives so I could enjoy the benefits, I thank you for their sacrifice. It isn’t just our men and women in the armed forces who have given their lives. Firefighters and police officers serve and protect all of us. Many of them have given their lives doing their job. Their families experience the same loss as the military. For our military and first responders who aren’t coming home because they died serving, lift up the families and give them peace. Give their families the strength for what may be a very difficult day for them. Comfort them for their loss. Let them know that we as a nation are grateful. Give them the peace that only You can bring.”
Today, please take time to remember why we have Memorial Day. I appreciate the sacrifice of those to whom I cannot thank -- those who died serving. Though I can’t thank them, I will remember them, and we will set aside a few minutes today to talk about their ultimate sacrifice. Help me remember them and remember to lift up their families in prayer.
Two years ago, Dottie and I were in Destin, Florida for a week. There were two things that happened during our fun that made me think both of today and this video I’m posting. I knew the Navy’s Blue Angels’ home base is at Pensacola, not very far from where we were. I hoped we might catch them in practice one day, but we didn’t. However, in addition to the Navy Base, there was also an Air Force Base close. Pretty much daily while we were there one of them would provide us with the Sound of Freedom. In case you don’t know, that is the sound of a military fighter jet(s) flying overhead. I love seeing and hearing those planes. We saw plenty of Navy jets flying over our house when I was growing up. Surprisingly to me though was that another military branch would provide our closest contact with the military on our trip.
One day we rode jet skis. As we were coming back in, three or four boats of men in full camo BDUs were also coming in. It was a group of US Army Green Berets coming back in from some water training. It was a bit bumpy that day, so they probably got some good training in.
The next day, I went SNUBA diving. That was a first for me. I am an advanced certified SCUBA diver but hadn’t been diving in … almost 42 years. SNUBA is a little different. There were 9 of us. In short, those doing SNUBA are being watched by SCUBA divers in full SCUBA gear. The 3 divers on our boat had over 50,000 dives between them. It was nice to know we were being watched over by that kind of experience. The guy watching over my raft of 3 people was an Army diver. While the Navy is quite famous for its divers, the Army also has divers. I have the greatest respect for military divers.
So, in honor of today, I am posting a couple of Army related performances that I found particularly moving. The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” performed this medley of The Ballad of the Green Berets and Taps. Some of the pictures really show what Memorial Day is about. You might want some tissue handy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIg2ZVf2aN4
I’m also posting the Army Field Band performing our National Anthem. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DADmZdbQ9x8
Finally, here is an Armed Forces Medley featuring all 6 service anthems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pj6QwN5eAY
Video created as a tribute to the United States Armed Forces. Clips from various public sources, including Service commercials from the Air Force, Marine Cor...
