Memorial Day is a time to remember the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom. AmeriVet’s military veteran employees share what Memorial Day means to them.

“Memorial Day is a time to honor and thank all those patriots who sacrificed their lives so we, as Americans, can enjoy the liberty and freedoms of our great country. As a Vietnam War veteran, I look at that black granite Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., and I see the names of my West Point classmates, my Air Force squadron mates and friends. Many of us served our country through the years, but those names and thousands of others on memorials, tombstones or gravemarkers are the patroits who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should be forever honored, thanked and remembered as they are the true heroes. 

– Bob Jones, U.S. Air Force veteran and former Prisoner of War

“One of the worse experiences in war is losing your buddies. My dad lost buddies in the Korean War and I lost three good buddies during my first tour of duty in Iraq. A day doesn’t go by that you do not think of them and this is especially true on Memorial Day. It is my hope that on this Memorial Day, as on all other Memorial Days, we Americans give pause and thanks to all those Americans who served and then made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can all live in peace and freedom.”

– Elton Johnson, Jr., U.S. Army veteran

“Memorial Day is a day to remember my brothers and sisters that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is important that we honor their memory, continue to support their surviving family members, and ensure their legacy lives on. Valhalla, ‘the hall of the fallen,’ is the great hall in Norse mythology where heroes slain in battle are received and is a place of honor, glory and happiness. No matter who or what you believe in, ‘Until Valhalla’ is a sign of utmost respect and tells our fallen that we will see them again…and we will.”

– Mercedes Elias, U.S. Marine Corps veteran 

My dad, Joseph Patrick Perdue, was a WWII U.S. Army veteran who died on April 18, 2018, as a 100% disabled veteran. This is a picture of him driving the early U.S. Army jeeps in Germany as part of the motor pool. Memorial Day reminds me to be thankful for those men and women who have served and are currently serving away from their families and children, during times of war and peace.”

– Patrick Perdue, U.S. Navy veteran

“Memorial Day is a reminder. I joined the Marines to test myself, to see if I was tough enough. I’ll always remember this story about a kid asking his grandfather who served in WWII if he was a hero. The grandfather answered, ‘I served in the company of heroes.’ I feel the same about my time in the Marine Corps. It meant so much to me and it’s where I met some of the best guys I’ve ever known. Sadly, some of them aren’t here anymore. Memorial Day reminds me of them and reminds me that I’m still here and that I should appreciate everything I have and the things I get to do.”

– Jason Pandak, U.S. Marine Corps veteran

“Memorial Day is time to pause and give remembrance to all those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom; for everything we cherish, from our materialistic possessions to our unalienable rights bestowed upon us by the Constitution, we thank and remember those before us and those fighting today.”

– Steve Kay, U.S. Marine Corps veteran

“Memorial Day is about sacrifice. At the U.S. Air Force Academy, we knew we were destined to follow in the footsteps of the ‘long blue line’ and become a part of something bigger than ourselves. Many of us have deployed since graduation and some of my close friends, classmates and acquaintances have paid the ultimate sacrifice. On Memorial Day and every day, we remember them. A toast.”

– Jessica Borriello, U.S. Air Force veteran

“Memorial Day is a reminder to all of us that we live in the shadows of giants and it’s a time to recognize all of the stories of sacrifice. It is also a daunting realization that time isn’t infinite and we are all vulnerable under the same sun. So love your buddies, enjoy those moments which make absolutely no sense because sometimes memories are all we are left with.”

– Karanjit Paul, U.S. Navy veteran