Mayor Elizabeth Fagan, MD, Memorial Day Speech
May 27, 2024
Veterans, distinguished guests, first responders, elected officials, and neighbors. On this solemn day, our Memorial Day, we honor and remember those who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we continue to enjoy today.
As we gather here on the Village Green, we see our wonderful war memorial. It reminds us that from the dawn of the American Revolution through the Civil War, World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and more recent conflicts, the citizens of Summit have never failed to answer the call.
Citizens of our great city have always boldly stepped forward. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the rights that our country holds dear.
Since Memorial Day was born in the wake of our Civil War, it is appropriate to remember the eloquent challenge posed by President Abraham Lincoln. At the time of this great struggle, it was truly a question whether our nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal, could long endure. Our heroes have ensured that our dedication to life, liberty, and the pursuit of justice have persevered.
As we look toward the future, there is no doubt that we live in tenuous times; foreign wars that rage across the world and tensions with enemies abroad are a real threat. Any American that steps up to serve our country at this time does so with full knowledge that there is a real possibility they will be placing themselves at grave risk. To those who have served, are currently serving, or are considering doing so in the near future, we thank you, we salute you, and we pledge our full support.
And we will never forget the citizens of Summit and all other Americans that have made the ultimate sacrifice.
God Bless the city and the citizens of Summit. God Bless our fallen heroes and God Bless the United States of America. Thank you.
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