Kris Mineau on Memorial Day
Friday May 28, 2010 - 04:36 AM
MFI President Kris Mineau speaks about Monday's Memorial Day holiday, and how important remembering the members of the Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice. He also speaks about the House's decision to pass legislation repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on the eve of Memorial Day Weekend.

On Monday, most Americans have the day off from work to spend time with family, fire up the grill and simply relax. But there are some people that will be working hard on Monday to ensure that there are long weekends in the future, and those people are the members of our Armed Forces.

Memorial Day is a day when we stop and solemnly remember that since the founding of our great nation, more than 1 million Americans have died in the service of their country. These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom, liberty and the values that made our nation great.

This year, I enter Memorial Day with an unsettled feeling after last night’s deplorable vote in Congress on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Military leaders, as well as the men and women serving under them, have repeatedly said that it is not a good idea to thrust such a significant change without a proper review and study of the impact on the Armed Forces.

The vote last night to attach an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill overturning the law banning open homosexuality in the military demonstrates just how committed the Congress, led by Nancy Pelosi, and this White House, led by President Obama, are to a political constituency with a radical agenda.

They ignored the pleas of the military, the heads of all four service branches, and the majority of military associations to not take a vote until after the Pentagon’s review. This is absurd, and to do so just before Memorial Day is offensive, never mind that the President also saw fit to vacation in Chicago in lieu of laying the traditional Memorial Day wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery.

But that is enough politics today. Congressional liberals and the President have politicized the brave men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, but we will continue to salute each and every one of them for all that they do. This weekend, take some time to explain to your children and grandchildren what Memorial Day is all about, attend a parade or memorial service, and say a prayer of gratitude for those who laid down their lives for us.

For our families,




Kris Mineau
President, Massachusetts Family Institute