Memorial Day: Remembering the Cost of Freedom

As the calendar turns to the end of May, Americans around the country are looking forward to the Memorial Day weekend that marks the “unofficial” start to summer.

As we enjoy our time together, whether it’s barbecuing, camping out or just spending time with family and friends, it is not unusual for us to miss taking the time to reflect on what Memorial Day is all about.

I urge all of us to take time to think about what this holiday really signifies – the sacrifices those who have worn a military uniform have done to ensure we enjoy the freedoms we all-to-often take for granted.

All across this country, we will see tributes to the courageous Americans who gave all of themselves while fighting to preserve our freedoms. There should be moments for you to take the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of sacrifice and what our freedoms mean so that the price these fallen warriors paid was not in vain.

Those that we honor on Memorial Day were no different from you or me. They felt the same fears, shared the same joys and looked to the hope and promise our nation offers. That you and I can still do that is due, in large measure, to the price paid by those who fell to preserve those freedoms.

Let us not forget that there are men and women currently in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan. These brave members of our military should be included in our thoughts and prayers as we show our appreciation for the fallen heroes of this and former generations.

There are many ways to demonstrate our recognition and remembrance of those who never came home to their families. One might fly an American flag, perhaps keeping it at half-staff until noon, or even visit a veterans’ cemetery to place flags or flowers on the final resting places of our troops.

However you choose to mark Memorial Day, I hope you do it with family and friends, sharing thoughts and perhaps memories of those service men and women you have known personally. Such stories are a terrific way for all of us to keep alive the spirit that has made this country great.

In closing, let me leave you with the words of Ali M, who as a third grader from Madison, Connecticut in 2001, wrote this brief essay:

As the flowers rest on the decorated graves and the sunlight shines on the beautiful sailboats, Uncle Sam whispers in my ear about how we should care for the soldiers and remember the ones that have died. Swimming pools open, BBQs fry. Today is the day to think of what they have done for us. There are blurs of red, white and blue marching down the street and flags are lowered at half-mast. But we should always remember and never forget what set us free, from this very day on.

I ask you to join me and Americans all across the country this weekend in paying tribute to our troops.

And to those of you in service, I salute you, and wish you God’s blessing. God Bless America.

Memorial Day: Remembering the Cost of Freedom

article (5/25/2012)
As the calendar turns to the end of May, Americans around the country are looking forward to the Memorial Day weekend that marks the “unofficial” start to summer. As we enjoy our time together, whether it’s barbecuing, camping... [more]

Senator Dutton Salutes Veterans and “Run for the Wall 2012”

news release (5/16/2012)
More than 600 veterans on motorcycles gathered together in Rancho Cucamonga this morning and departed for Washington, D.C. on their annual “Run for the Wall.” Started in 1989 by James Gregory and Bill Evans, this annual ride seeks to... [more]

Budget Briefing: The OHV Trust Fund—Where’s the Trust?

news release (5/16/2012)
Senators Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) and Bill Emmerson (R-Hemet) voiced serious concerns about the future of the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trust Fund following a May 9 hearing of the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental... [more]

Senator Bob Dutton’s “Business Spotlight”

article (5/15/2012)
Note: Although unemployment in California remains the second highest in the nation at 10.7 percent and the Inland Empire’s rate is even higher at 11.8 percent, there are some bright spots when it comes to business growth and expansion in San... [more]

High School Business Education Class Presents Findings to Senator Dutton

news release (5/15/2012)
Students taking a business education class at Arroyo Valley High School outlined the results of a study on the economic impact government regulations have on business to Sen. Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) during a presentation at the school on May... [more]

Senator Dutton Responds to May Revised Budget

news release (5/14/2012)
Senator Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) released the following statement in response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s release of the May Revised Budget. “Republicans warned the governor last year that he was using faulty revenue estimates when he... [more]

Dutton Measure to Reduce Taxes on Bundled Cell Phone Purchases Defeated

news release (5/9/2012)
A measure authored by Senator Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) that would have reduced taxes on the purchase of bundled cell phone packages, was defeated today in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. The bill was defeated on a party-line vote... [more]