On this Memorial Day, flags fly at half-staff — and for good reason. More than 1.3 million U.S. service members have died in war since the nation’s founding.
From the bloody banks of Normandy to the heat of Kandahar, they didn’t just wear the uniform — they bore the burden of our freedom.
And let’s not forget — the sacrifices didn’t stop at the battlefield. Black soldiers have fought and died in every American war — often returning home to face racism in the very country they served. From the Buffalo Soldiers to the Tuskegee Airmen, their loyalty was never conditional — even when their rights were.
Today isn’t just about backyard barbecues — it’s about remembering that freedom was never free and honoring those who paid the price in full.
So as we honor their legacy, let’s also commit to protecting the democracy they died for — because remembrance without action is just tradition without meaning.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
