John Piscopo

Memorial Day, May 30th, 2011

GOOD MORNING:

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, IN WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A MEANINGFUL AND SOLEMN DAY TO BE HONORED BY ALL AMERICANS.

WE GATHER TO REMEMBER AND THANK THE MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED SERVICES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY’S FREEDOM.

WE MOURN THE DEATHS OF THOSE BRAVE SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES AND AIRMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN PAST AND PRESENT WARS IN AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. WE THANK THEM.

SINCE OUR COUNTRY’S BIRTH, AMERICANS HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON NOT JUST TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY, BUT TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US TO LIVE.

OUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS FOUGHT AND DIED IN FAR-AWAY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.

THEIR SACRIFICES NOT ONLY KEPT US FREE, THEY ALSO SET AN EXAMPLE THAT HAS INSPIRED THOSE WHO FOLLOWED THEM.

THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT IN THIS WAR WERE CITIZEN SOLDIERS – THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN OUR NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE UNITS – AND MANY OF THEM ARE FROM CONNECTICUT.

THEY ARE OUR MOTHERS AND FATHERS; OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS; HUSBANDS AND WIVES; AND OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

THEY DRILL ONE WEEKEND A MONTH AND SHARPEN THEIR SKILLS WITH ONE MONTH OF INTENSIVE TRAINING DURING THE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.

WE THANK THOSE WHO EMPLOY OUR NATIONAL GUARDSMEN AND RESERVISTS – WHETHER THEY ARE SMALL BUSINESSES OR LARGE CORPORATIONS OR OUR LOCAL OR STATE GOVERNMENTS.

THEY MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE UNITS TO SERVE AND BE READY TO ANSWER WHEN THEIR STATE OR THEIR COUNTRY CALLS.

SOME MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE AND GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY.

TO THEIR LOVED ONES, WE OFFER OUR PRAYERS, OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES AND OUR EVERLASTING THANKS.

LIKE THOSE WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY BEFORE YOU AND FOUGHT AND DIED TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY FREE, YOU ARE IN OUR HEARTS AND ON OUR MINDS TODAY.

WE PRAY FOR YOU AND FOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR MISSIONS.

AND WE PRAY FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN AND YOUR JOYFUL REUNIONS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES.

GOD BLESS AMERICA; GOD BLESS OUR HONORED DEAD; AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.