This Memorial Day, Let's Honor the Debt We Owe to the Fallen
Why the best tribute to those who sacrificed everything is a life well-lived, together.
May 25, 2025
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This Memorial Day weekend, we will pause to honor the men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to our country. It’s a solemn time for remembering those who gave up everything so that future generations can live in freedom.
But remembrance, gratitude, and parades — important as they are — are just the beginning. The life we enjoy today comes at a cost, and with it, a debt we can never fully repay.
What we can do is live in a way that reflects the weight of their sacrifice. That means striving to shape a nation that honors their bravery by living out the values they stood for and carrying forward the unfinished work they left behind.
Memorial Day should remind us that freedom is not free, and how we live now helps define the legacy of those who came before us. So, we’re left with the question: How do we make our lives a reflection of the gift they gave us?
Stronger relationships as a civic virtue
If we hope to build a more perfect union, a good place to start is in how we treat one another. Showing up in our relationships — with empathy, respect, and care — is one of the most powerful ways to honor those who gave their lives for this country.
Our soldiers fought and died to preserve a democracy that depends on honest conversation, informed debate, and a willingness to listen. When we reduce those with different views to enemies, we deepen division and weaken the foundation our servicemen and women defended. We don’t have to agree, but we have a responsibility to disagree respectfully.
That responsibility for better relationships doesn’t stop at politics. It carries into our everyday lives.
We can also honor our soldiers’ sacrifice by talking with our neighbors, supporting those in need, and investing in the common good. Simple acts like lending a hand, checking in on a friend, or volunteering in the community may seem small, but they add up. They’re what holds us together. They’re the foundation of a stronger, more compassionate nation.
What we teach future generations
Another way we can carry forward the legacy of the fallen is by making sure their stories and the values they stood for live on. That starts with educating our children about the sacrifices behind our freedoms and what those sacrifices mean for how we live today.
In our family, we’ve turned Memorial Day into a teaching moment. Each year, we give our children — and now our grandchildren — an assignment: Research a family member who served and has since passed and share what they’ve learned over the holiday weekend.
Sometimes it’s a drawing, sometimes a letter. One year, it was even a video tribute. It’s become one of my favorite traditions, bringing history into our home in a way that feels personal and lasting.
If you’re looking for a way to mark the occasion, perhaps your family might try something similar. Whether it’s sharing stories around the dinner table or inviting younger generations to learn about a relative who served, these small acts help keep their memory alive.
Embracing our freedoms
At its core, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. But it also marks the beginning of summer, when families gather, grills are fired up, and communities connect with lively parades and concerts.
And that’s not a contradiction. It’s part of the promise we’re meant to keep.
Another responsibility we owe the fallen is to live by fully embracing the freedom they secured for us. That means not only remembering them in solemn moments but also honoring them by enjoying the very things they fought to protect: laughter, family, freedom of expression, and the pursuit of happiness.
I hope you enjoy the long holiday weekend and get to spend time with the people you love by sharing a meal, telling stories, and soaking in the beauty of a late-spring afternoon. These are the dividends of a great sacrifice.
But let’s also remember why we have the freedom to celebrate. By living fully and remembering deeply, we not only keep the spirit of those we've lost alive but also build a future that honors everything they gave.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder, CEO, and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
