05/21/2025
Scouts, Scoutmasters, families, and friends, thank you for gathering today to honor Memorial Day—a day of solemn reflection and gratitude. As Boy Scouts, you embody values like duty, honor, and service, which connect directly to the meaning of this day. Today, we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives—and those still missing in action—in defense of our nation and the freedoms we cherish.
Memorial Day isn’t just a long weekend or the start of summer. It’s a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by countless heroes. These were ordinary people—sons, daughters, brothers, sisters—who answered the call to serve. They faced danger, left loved ones behind, and, for many, paid the ultimate price. Others remain missing, their fates unknown, leaving families with an ache that never fully heals. Their courage and sacrifice ensure we can live in a country where we’re free to gather, to learn, to grow, and to strive for a better tomorrow.
As Scouts, you’re learning what it means to serve others—through your oath, your service projects, and your commitment to community. The soldiers we honor today lived those same values. They served not for glory, but because they believed in something bigger than themselves. Whether they fell on battlefields in World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan, or remain unaccounted for, their legacy lives on in the freedoms we enjoy and the opportunities you have to make a difference.
Let me share a brief story. During World War II, a young soldier named Private John Steele, not much older than some of you, parachuted into Normandy on D-Day. He was wounded, captured, and later escaped to fight again. Stories like his remind us of the bravery and resilience of those who served. Many never returned, and over 80,000 American service members from past wars are still missing in action. Their families carry the weight of uncertainty, and we honor them, too, by keeping their memory alive.
As Scouts, you have a role in this legacy. When you place flags on graves, march in parades, or serve your community, you’re honoring those who gave everything. You’re showing that their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. The Scout Law calls you to be brave, reverent, and loyal—qualities that echo the spirit of those we remember today. Carry their memory forward by living with purpose, by standing up for what’s right, and by serving others selflessly.
So, as we mark this Memorial Day, let’s pledge to do more than remember. Let’s commit to action. Be kind to your neighbors. Help those in need. Learn about the history of our nation’s heroes. And when you see a veteran or a Gold Star family, thank them. Their sacrifice is why we’re here, free to be Scouts, free to be Americans, free to build a brighter future.
Let’s bow our heads for a moment of silence to honor those who gave their lives and those still missing in action.
