BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement to honor our country’s fallen servicemembers on Memorial Day:

“In the spring of 1865, General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain accepted the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army at Appomattox Courthouse, ending a bloody war that nearly broke our nation. In the springs that followed, people across our country gathered together in search of healing, remembering the loved ones who were lost in the devastating conflict that pitted brother against brother. It was from this tradition that Memorial Day – a solemn day of remembrance – was born.

“More than a century and a half later, the tradition continues. This Memorial Day, we come together to recognize the American servicemembers who paid the ultimate price for our country. Americans owe an immense debt to these heroes and their loved ones – it is because of them that we enjoy the fundamental freedoms of our nation. As we reflect on the meaning of this sacred day, we must remember our collective duty to preserve the memories of these heroes and stories of their sacrifices for generations to come.

“In dedicating a memorial to Maine men who lost their lives, Chamberlain said: "This is the great reward of service. To live, far out and on, in the life of others.” Today, it is our privilege and obligation to make good on Chamberlain’s promise – to hold the memories of our lost heroes close, and to ensure that they continue to live on in the hearts and minds of all future Americans.

“May God bless you, the memories of our fallen servicemembers, and the United States of America.”

Senator King spoke at Lewiston/Auburn’s Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday to commemorate this sacred holiday on Saturday. He also released a video on social media sharing his perspective on the day’s meaning and the importance of honoring our fallen servicemembers.