MIDLAND, Texas — Memorial Day ceremonies were going on around West Texas on Monday, including at American Legion Post 119 in Midland, to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“Remembering, honoring and preserving," said Congressman August Pfluger, 11th District of Texas.
Memorial Day is special.
“Thinking about the men and women for 240-plus years who have been willing to give their lives, honoring their legacy [and] their heritage, and then preserving that – really, it’s about the next generation," Congressman Pfluger said.
Congressman Pfluger, who actively served in the U.S. Air Force for nearly 20 years, said it’s about teaching the next generation the opportunity that Memorial Day provides.
“Today, we’re here to honor those who actually paid that ultimate sacrifice – who laid down their lives in the defense of this flag, in the defense of freedom, in the defense of liberty, in defense of the things that establish this country as the greatest country on Earth," said Congressman Pfluger while speaking at the ceremony.
Galen Bock is the adjutant for Post 119, a Vietnam veteran and an advocate for patriotism.
“There [are] so many that served, so many that fought for our country and our founding fathers and what they had – their dreams and stuff – and we just need to honor all of that," Bock said. "And, that’s what I feel like that I’m trying to do – trying to make sure that it never gets forgotten.”
With the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, it might be more important than ever to remember all who have served the United States of America.
“That set the world up for freedom," Congressman Pfluger said. "It set the world up to say, ‘we’re not going to give in to authoritarianism to the Nazi leadership, we are going to stand up, we’re going to fight,’ and D-Day, 80 years later, still represents that greatest generation – what they did for our country, and quite frankly, what they did for our world to say that freedom and liberty will win out over the rest of the other types of authoritarianism.”