Memorial Day: More Than a Long Weekend
Every year, Memorial Day arrives with the unofficial start of summer in Rhode Island.
Beaches begin to fill, grills fire up, boats go back in the water, and families gather after a long New England winter, but Memorial Day is not simply a celebration of summer.
It is a day of remembrance.
A day to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country so that the rest of us could enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.
Freedom is easy to overlook when life gets busy.
We worry about bills, work, traffic, politics, and the everyday challenges of raising families and building a future, but the ability to debate openly, vote freely, build businesses, worship as we choose, and live without fear came at an extraordinary cost paid by generations of Americans willing to serve something bigger than themselves.
Memorial Day reminds us of that debt.
Across Rhode Island, there are families who carry the weight of that sacrifice every single day. Empty seats at holidays. Names etched into monuments. Stories passed down through generations. Their sacrifice did not end when the flags were folded.
For my own family, Memorial Day is also personal.
We remember my Uncle Peter, who I never had the chance to meet. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces during World War II, before the creation of the modern U.S. Air Force.
He served as a Corporal and Gunner with the 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy), affectionately known as “The Liberandos,” flying B-24 Liberators.
The 376th was the first heavy bomber group to serve in the Middle East Theater during the war. These crews flew dangerous missions across North Africa and beyond under extraordinarily difficult conditions.
During one of those missions, Uncle Peter’s aircraft was shot down somewhere over North Africa, and his body was never recovered.
Today, he is memorialized alongside 3,724 missing American servicemen on the Wall of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, a solemn reminder of the immense sacrifice made by an entire generation.
Like so many families across America, ours was left with a loss that never fully heals.
Memorial Day serves as a reminder that behind every name on a monument is a son, brother, husband, friend, or neighbor whose story was cut short in service to our country.
As we enjoy time with family and friends this weekend, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on what this day truly represents.
Not politics.
Not division.
Not headlines or social media arguments.
But gratitude.
Gratitude for those who stepped forward when their country called and never came home.
One of the things that makes communities like ours special is that we still understand the importance of service.
Whether it is military service, volunteering, coaching youth sports, helping neighbors, or giving back locally, strong communities are built by people willing to contribute rather than simply consume.
That spirit matters.
This Memorial Day, may we honor the fallen not only with words, but by striving to build communities and a country worthy of their sacrifice.
From my family to yours, have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend, and to the Gold Star families and veterans throughout District 36 and beyond: thank you.
We remember.
