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

“On May 5, 1866, one year after the Civil War ended, a ceremony was held in Waterloo, New York, honoring veterans of that bloody, devastating conflict. Stores closed, flags were flown at half-staff, and the community came together to recognize those who fought and sacrificed to preserve our nation. As the years passed, the scope and size of these ceremonies grew across the country, and in 1971, the annual tradition was officially made Memorial Day – a day of solemn national observance. For more than a century and a half, we have continued this sacred ritual of paying tribute to those who gave their lives by rededicating ourselves to the principles for which they fought.

“Today, we remember the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country and to preserve our way of life. We remember them not just as graves marked with flags, but as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, neighbors and friends. We remember their hopes and their dreams; we remember the part of ourselves that was lost when they gave our country, as President Lincoln described, “the last full measure of devotion.”

“As we honor these lost loved ones, we must also acknowledge the pain of their friends and families, who continue to miss them dearly. They are the mighty shoulders on which our armed forces stand as they protect our country and the values we hold dear. While we will never be able to fully repay the debt owed to our fallen heroes and their families, we can resolve to never forget or abandon the promises for which they fought. It is now on us to defend their vision of a free and strong nation so that the generations to come continue to enjoy the fruits of our exceptional democracy.

“May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.”

Senator King will join a ceremony at Southern Maine Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Springvale later in the day to commemorate the sacred holiday. He also released a video on social media sharing his perspective on the day’s meaning and the importance of honoring our fallen servicemembers.