Memorial Day note: This belongs to them

In 2015, President Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Captain Florent Groberg—marking only the tenth time a living service member has received our Nation’s highest valor award—for his actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. Seven more soldiers from the same battle were posthumously awarded the medal.

During the ceremony, President Obama addressed the specifics of Captain Groberg’s heroism. But let me say that in the worst of circumstances, and without hesitation, Captain Groberg acted in a manner that saved the lives of many of his comrades.

Tragically, he couldn’t save them all.

When he was informed that he would receive the Medal of Honor, Groberg said, “This medal belongs to them. It is my mission to tell everyone, ‘Thank you for recognizing me, but this does not belong to me. It belongs to them.’ That’s how I’m coping with it mentally. This gives me an opportunity to represent them and their families.”

Captain Groberg is emblematic of the service and sacrifices of young men and women from every generation of American Veterans. For almost two and a half centuries now, they have selflessly answered the calls to arms to preserve and defend the ideas behind the words that are both vision and conscience for our democracy: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Each generation has done its part to deliver a strong and free America to the next generation. They have done so with great determination, personal toughness and a willingness to risk it all for others.

This Memorial Day, I want to especially acknowledge those who served in two difficult conflicts, World War II and the decade-long war in Vietnam. To those who fought in those wars, thank you for your selfless service. Americans are ever grateful for your sacrifices.