PRYOR, Oklahoma ~ We do not forget. Whether it is an hour ago or a century ago, we remember. On May 11, several members of the Oklahoma National Guard met in Pryor to honor Kyle Brinlee. Brinlee was 21 when he was killed in action in Iraq by an improvised explosive on May 11, 2004. Members of his unit have met every year to spend some quit time at the cemetery to honor and remember Kyle.
The American Legion Family feels they have a special obligation to honor and remember soldiers like Brinlee and all of our country's fallen heroes. We honor these heroes in many different ways. This weekend we honor these heroes by placing a small American Flag on their marker in cemeteries throughout Mayes County. On Monday, Memorial Day, we will honor these heroes with a small ceremony at Graham Memorial Cemetery beginning at 10 am.
We honor these heroes because we understand that military service comes with inherent dangers. We honor these heroes, whose graves are marked by those small American Flags, because as Marine Corps Veteran Rosanna Powers said, "We can debate the war's legacy and what it means for the future of American Foreign Policy. But we remember who stands ready to protect our freedom to have those debates and we remember those who died to keep that freedom safe. It is up to us to honor them, in our own way, by trying to make the country they died for a better place."
These men and women that Rosanna is talking about represent the diverse patchwork that makes up this great country. The flags you will see are placed on markers of the rich and poor; black and white; male and female. They come from cities, they worked on farms, and some lived in the suburbs. They came from every ethnicity, background and political spectrum you can fathom. Their one common characteristic is that they all took an oath to die for America if called upon.
What we can do as Americans is ensure that the memories of these great heroes and their sacrifices they made were not in vain. We can ensure that the future generations understand the importance of service, sacrifice, and honor. We can ensure through our own community service that our Country remains strong, free and prosperous.
Memorial Day is so much more than BBQ and the beginning of summer. Memorial Day is for, we the living, to be dedicated to continuing the work of those who have gone before us. It is a day to reaffirm our commitment to preserving the memory of our fallen heroes and to declare our unending gratitude and support for their families.
The American Legion Sullivan/Lewis Post 182 invites you to take 30 minutes of your Memorial Day to join them at the Memorial Day Ceremony. A ceremony to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives for this great country. A ceremony to reflect on their courage, their sacrifice and their dedication to a cause greater than themselves.
If you are unable to attend the service, then take a few moments over this Memorial Day Weekend to recommit yourself to the cause of freedom, justice and democracy, so that the legacy of our fallen heroes, whose final resting place is marked by those small American Flags, will live on for generations to come.
