Washington (May 30, 2022) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement commemorating Memorial Day.

“As our nation reels from the devastating loss of civilian life in cities and towns across our country as a result of the epidemic of gun violence, we come together today to honor those brave Americans who elect to put their own lives on the line to keep other Americans safe as members of the Armed Services. Every year – but especially this year – we commemorate Memorial Day with solemnity and reflect together as a nation on the sanctity of every life, and the immense sacrifice of every life that’s been lost, from the battlefield to the schoolyard.

“I am honored to have introduced the bipartisan legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the top-secret U.S. Army units that served in World War II, known as the Ghost Army. Like every one of their brothers and sisters in arms, these brave veterans made critical contributions to preserve the freedom, safety, prosperity and peace of every American. I am thankful to President Biden for signing my Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act into law this year and for working to ensure these service members are awarded with distinction and remembered on this Memorial Day.

“On this Memorial Day, we must renew our commitment to not only honor those who have fallen in the fight for our freedom, but those who return from war. We must invest in the care of service members and their families, from health care to housing to education. It is our duty to pay homage to their sacrifice as they do – not through words, but through actions.”

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