Memorial Day: Freedom Isn't Free - 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Have my annual Memorial Day message for you. Freedom isn't free,
because it isn't free. And as many of us are
heading out to visit friends, family, have a good time
over Memorial Day weekend, that's a great thing. I mean,
enjoying freedom is a big part of having freedom. And

(00:21):
on that note, tiars Fox's Jeff Manasso.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
TRIPAA says over forty five million of US will travel
fifty miles or more today through Monday, a record and
up one point four million from last year's Memorial Day weekend,
with about five million of US traveling via air, train, bus,
or cruise ship and forty million traveling by car.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
And so if that is you, great and do hope
it's absolutely a wonderful weekend for you. We do still
have a responsibility and it's something that I think far
too often isn't held in proper focus because of all
federal holidays, none is more solid or as significant as

(01:02):
Memorial Day. There are times when people have questioned me
on that as significant as Memorial Day, I mean, you
don't think even Independence Day, for example, No, I don't.
And the reason is we would not have arrived at
Independence Day had it not been for the crux of
Memorial Day, right, there is no independence, There is no

(01:24):
United States of America if not for what we recognize
a Memorial Day. Before the United States of America had
fully won our independence, you had people that laid down
their lives. And this is all part of it. So
increasingly the purpose and the significance of the day of
remembrance is blurred in this society. And we do have

(01:46):
a responsibility on Memorial Day as Americans to pay homage
to those who granted us the freedom and everything that
we enjoy with their lives. It started with the greater
than forty four hundred soldiers who died in the American Revolution.
It's continued with over seven thousand Americans who have sacrificed
their lives fighting terrorism and defending freedom around the world

(02:07):
since nine to eleven. In our nearly two hundred and
fifty years as a country now two forty nine at
this point, over a one and a half million Americans
have sacrificed their lives for freedom, for our freedom, and
so the least we could do take just a little time,
one day a year to honor that sacrifice. After World

(02:29):
War Two and at the time of the official Declaration
of Memorial Days a federal day of remembrance. In nineteen
sixty seven, approximately twelve percent of the US population had
served in the military. For those who survived the Great
War and the Forgotten War, they didn't need a reminder
about the sacrifices that had been made by those who
didn't return home. Today, under one percent of Americans serve.

(02:54):
It's become easy for most to take it for granted,
just enjoy what they enjoy without thinking about how it happened.
Over eighty percent of the world's population is not free.
You think about these number, over eighty percent is not
truly free. And the median per capita income outside of
the United States is under five thousand dollars per year.

(03:18):
I mean, think about this. The federal poverty level is
basically four times four times more than what the average
person outside of these country's is bringing in in a year.
Many in our society lack perspective because they never had it,
or and taught it, or simply place politics disproportionately above

(03:40):
what is most important. But it is important that we
all do our part to ensure that we have that perspective,
share it with those in our lives. It's one of
the many lessons that you know, my dad brought to
me around federal holidays. Would always as kids, sit us around,
like you understand why you're not going to school today
for example, or just this is why we have this day,

(04:02):
this is why we are recognizing this day. And I
believe in carrying on that tradition. I don't have kids,
but I do have a platform, and so I like
to share it with you so maybe could be inspiring
for those in your life. You know, freedom isn't free,
it never has been. It's paid with the blood of
more than one and a half million Americans who laid

(04:23):
down their lives in service to our country. And it
is our duty as Americans to honor them and remember
them this Memorial Day.