On Memorial Day, I return to the Gettysburg Address, where President Lincoln so powerfully spoke of our inability to articulate the immense sacrifice of our fallen troops:
"We can not dedicate. We can not consecrate. We can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
Though we cannot convey the debt of gratitude and depth of loss, we must still try.
On this solemn day, we honor the courageous service members — patriots — who gave the "last full measure of devotion" for our freedom.