The Lessons of Sacrifice

On this Memorial Day, American servicemembers remain deployed across the world. This simple fact makes the day less abstract, more real. Memorial Day is not only about wars filed away in history, but also about lives lost in service to the nation and the obligations those losses place on the living.

For those who served in combat, the day is intensely personal. It is a day of names, missions, and memories that never fade away entirely. Three of the fallen return to me every year: Cpl. Each had a family, friends, hobbies, dreams, and a future. Their deaths taught those who served with them something enduring about leadership, citizenship, grief, and responsibility. I hope that Americans with no connection to the military might still pause today — during a parade or civic remembrance — to reflect on these soldiers’ ultimate sacrifice. Andrew Kemple was 23 years old and from Cambridge, Minnesota. He graduated high school in 2001 and decided to join the Army after the terrorist attacks of Sept. His mother later said their family was hesitant about Andrew’s decision, but ultimately, they supported him because he felt such a strong conviction to serve. Andrew was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, also known as the Iron Rakkasans . He was a machine gunner in 3rd Platoon, assigned to the platoon leader’s vehicle. As the platoon leader for 1st Platoon, we were in the same company, so our vehicle crews often crossed paths in the spaces between missions: waiting for briefings, comparing notes, loading vehicles, and managing the daily routine.

Key points

• For those who served in combat, the day is intensely personal.
• It is a day of names, missions, and memories that never fade away entirely.
• Three of the fallen return to me every year: Cpl.
• Each had a family, friends, hobbies, dreams, and a future.
• Their deaths taught those who served with them something enduring about leadership, citizenship, grief, and responsibility.