FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Friday, May 26, 2017
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Marie Gordon,
770-661-0999
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Isakson: The Meaning of Memorial Day
Netherlands American Cemetery – Margraten, Netherlands
MARIETTA, Ga. – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today offered the following personal narrative in honor of Memorial Day:
“This Memorial Day, I ask Americans
to pause for a moment and offer a prayer of thanks for those who made
the ultimate sacrifice for you and every freedom-loving American.
Unfortunately, many of
us never take that important moment to really appreciate the sacrifice
that was made.
“Let me tell you my story.
“A few years ago, as a member of the
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I traveled to visit the American
cemeteries in both Europe and North Africa. On that Memorial Day, our
committee participated
in the Memorial Day ceremony at Netherlands American Cemetery. It was a
beautiful day, and the ceremony was moving. A Dutch men’s choir sang
‘God Bless America,’ the Royal Netherlands Air Force did a ‘missing man
formation’ flyover, and local residents and
their children placed flowers on each grave. Stories were shared of the
heroism of American and Allied soldiers who defeated the Germans at the
Battle of the Bulge.
“After the ceremony, my wife and I
walked past every grave to pay our respects. The white crosses and Stars
of David glistened in the sunlight. At one of the graves, I paused to
read the inscription,
and it brought me to tears. In simple black letters etched in the
marble cross it read, ‘Private Roy C. Irwin, New Jersey, December 28,
1944.’
“The day Roy C. Irwin died fighting
for America was the same day I was born. All of a sudden, the meaning of
Memorial Day became clear. On the day my mother gave me life, Roy C.
Irwin sacrificed
his life for the freedom I have enjoyed and cherished for 72 years.
“On this Memorial Day, I say, ‘God bless Roy C. Irwin, and God bless America’s veterans.’”
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AMANDA MADDOX
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Communications Director
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OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON
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131 Russell Senate Office Building | Washington, DC 20510
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phone: 202.224.3643
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Visit Johnny’s
website
to learn more about his work in the Senate and to sign up for his newsletter.
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