Memorial Day: More Than Just a Parade

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Richard F. Keevey
May 12, 2025

We are blessed to live in the United States, and as Memorial Day approaches, we should remember those who sacrificed and died in the service of our nation to allow us to live in freedom.

Memorial Day was originally dedicated to honoring Civil War soldiers. It was expanded after World War I to honor all who served this nation. The United States has participated in 78 wars. While many can best be described as skirmishes, if we focus on World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, 650,000 Americans were killed.

When I was young, we decorated the spokes on our bikes with red and blue crepe paper and joined a parade—joyfully and proudly waving a small American flag. Upon arrival at a designated memorial, we said a prayer and listened to speeches remembering our brave soldiers. Today, only 30 percent of Americans know what Memorial Day is all about, and only 5 percent actually observe it. Unfortunately, even some of our current leaders express words such as “suckers” and “losers” when thinking about the dead we honor at the gravesites.

Why did these brave Americans give their lives? The answer is surely enumerated in the first 10 amendments to our Constitution—otherwise known as the Bill of Rights. But perhaps President Franklin Roosevelt summarized it best in his Four Freedoms speech: they fought and died for freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Do we have warts? Have we made mistakes? Has every international encounter or war been necessary? Furthermore, and unfortunately, current political and partisan actions are challenging our long-held status as a world leader and our nation’s image as a model of integrity and fairness. But hopefully, we will remain a beacon of hope and opportunity for all people around the world. Consider two critical hallmarks that have historically set us apart from other nations—now more than ever, they need to be encouraged and celebrated.

We were the first nation to separate church and state. Some argue we should change this and some are actively pursuing such a change, but I think this is wrong. Our separation doctrine does not mean we are against religion. Rather, such separation is critical to our form of democracy, where no one religion assumes primacy over others.

We were the first “universal” nation. No other nation has ever invited and welcomed such a diverse group of people and religions to our shores. Are we stumbling? Yes. However, our foundation is strong, and even when prejudice raises its ugly head, we have and will prevail as a people and as a nation. We have and must continue to welcome the huddled masses and find a pathway for Dreamers and other immigrants.

Another thought: we need to correct our election laws and avoid self-serving, political, prejudicial and outright illegal actions. Specifically, we need to:

Fix the way we fund election campaigns. Today, money buys too much and plays far too big a role in our democracy.

Standardize and significantly expand the way we register to vote.

Cease gerrymandering so only certain parties can win certain districts.

Establish a national holiday for voting and expand pre-election day venues and other modes of voting so every American can vote.

What better way to honor the brave men and women who sacrificed and died for this nation?

A final reflection: have you ever visited the cemeteries in Europe where many of our soldiers are buried? My wife and I have. During these visits—whether in Luxembourg, Belgium or Normandy—a tear is shed and a prayer uttered. Nothing is more moving than viewing where our courageous citizens and our allies ended the brutality of Nazism and extremism.

Maybe some of you have lost a father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, son or daughter. To you, a special prayer on this Memorial Day. To the rest of us, let us simply remember the unselfish sacrifice of those who throughout history have given so much to ensure our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

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Author: Rich held two presidential appointments as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense and as CFO at HUD. He was appointed state budget director by two New Jersey Governors from each political party. He was Director of the Policy Research Institute at Princeton University. He is currently a Policy Fellow at Rutgers University. He served as executive officer of a nuclear missile unit in Europe in the mid-1960s.

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