Forever grateful: A Memorial Day story

This is a revised opinion Memorial Day tribute.

“They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this nation.” — Henry Ward Beecher

Memorial Day 2026: I am forever grateful for the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live free from tyranny. It is our duty to ensure that we do not let them witness our failure.

I am also profoundly grateful for my friend, Dr. Barry Lee Booth. His tireless work for our veterans is unmatched, and I was honored when he asked me to speak at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery near Spanish Fort on Memorial Day 2024. Standing before those who gathered to honor our fallen was a moment I will never forget.

A life-changing experience

Much of what I shared that day stemmed from an incredible opportunity Dr. Barry provided: the chance to walk among members of America’s greatest generation. You can read my full reflection on that special day here.

May 4, 2011, remains etched in my memory as one of my most meaningful experiences. I served as a guardian for the 5th Honor Flight South Alabama trip. From 2008 to 2013, these missions flew over 950 WWII veterans from Mobile to Washington, D.C., giving them the long-overdue ticker-tape parade they missed in 1945.

Fighting for what lies behind

Dr. Booth, a key organizer for these missions, reminded us that our only job was to bring these men home safely. He spoke with immense passion about the young soldiers who stormed the beaches on Higgins Boats. As Booth noted, these were just children when they boarded those vessels, but they became men on a mission—not fighting for what was in front of them, but fighting for their families, their freedom, and their lives.

You can learn more about Dr. Booth's tireless advocacy for veterans here.

Lessons from heroes

During that flight, I was the guardian for Waid “Butch” Turner and Fred “Fritz” Witzel. Mr. Witzel, a former flight instructor for the Army Air Corps, was a delight who kept me on my toes with his playful vanishing acts. Mr. Turner, a Navy Seaman First Class who served in the North African Campaign and the Pacific, shared stories that were both sobering and deeply moving. He spoke of his time operating a Higgins Boat and witnessing the immense cost of war. His words stay with me: “That was my job.”

Seeing these men treated like rock stars, with young people rushing up to thank them for their service, was truly heart-warming. It provided a sense of liberation for these veterans, many of whom were discussing their wartime experiences for the first time in decades. You can read more about an Alabama WWII veteran's homecoming and the 10-year legacy of these flights.

A final salute

Though Fritz and Butch have since passed, I cherish the memories of our time together. Butch lived a full life, eventually passing peacefully at 89 while doing what he loved—mowing his lawn. For me, these experiences have been a profound reminder of the debt we owe.

While we officially designate one day to honor those who gave their lives, as Dr. Booth often says, “Every day should be Veteran’s Day.” We must never forget.