Each Memorial Day, Americans pause to reflect on the courageous men and women who have died in service to our country. Those we honor include the first patriots of 1776 who gave their lives for independence, the modern-day warriors who fell in Iraq and Afghanistan, and all those in between who have died to keep us safe. These fallen heroes, spanning many generations, are forever bound together by their shared bonds of sacrifice. Memorial Day is an important reminder that the freedoms we enjoy are not free. Our liberties have been purchased on the battlefield by fellow Americans who served a cause greater than themselves. Their example should inspire us all to live lives worthy of their sacrifice and to renew our commitment to serving others, each in our own way.