HENRICO, V.A. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement ahead of Memorial Day 2021.

“This weekend, we remember American lives marked by immeasurable courage, reflect on the heavy price of our liberties, and honor the heroism of the men and women who never returned home — who rest under white crosses, tombstones, and unmarked graves in locations as close as Central Virginia or as distant as Omaha Beach. In their names, we keep watch over our homeland, and we will never forget our fellow Americans who gave their lives in the defense of our nation and in support of this hopeful and lasting American project.

“As we recover from a period of great uncertainty and hardship throughout our nation, this Memorial Day is an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a part of the American experience. At our core, we are rooted in our founding principles, our Constitution, and our shared values. Our citizens’ faith in these values can often be strained, and these doubts are often warranted. But there is an enduring promise found in our common destiny — and those who have fallen in the service of our country are reminders of this truth. The freedoms and liberties enshrined in our Constitution are worth defending, and Virginians have never wavered in answering this call.

“This Memorial Day, I am also thinking of the families of Central Virginians who have been lost to a service-connected injury, those who have died by suicide, and those who remain missing in action. These families deserve our nation’s strongest support, and I will continue to be their fierce and unwavering advocate in the halls of Congress. They are not alone — and I firmly believe that we pay tribute to the memory of the fallen not only in honoring their valor, but by caring for their brothers and sisters in arms and those they have left behind.

“As veterans, veteran service organizations, families, and community members prepare to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, I encourage all Virginians to reflect and remember.”

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