05/25/2026
Across our nation today, flags will wave, families will gather, and communities will come together.
Many will enjoy a day off from work. Many will attend parades, cookouts, and celebrations.
But before the day slips away, we ask that everyone remember why this holiday exists.
Memorial Day is not about the start of summer.
It is not about backyard barbecues, beaches, or an extra day off.
It is about sacrifice.
It is about the young soldier who never returned home. The sailor lost at sea. The airman who gave their life in the defense of freedom. The Marine whose family received a knock at the door that forever changed their lives.
It is about the empty seats at family tables, the folded flags displayed in living rooms, and the Gold Star families who continue to carry the weight of loss long after the final salute has been rendered.
The freedoms we enjoy today were purchased at an extraordinary cost by men and women who believed something greater than themselves was worth defending.
As public servants, we understand the meaning of service, duty, and sacrifice. Yet today, we pause to recognize those whose sacrifice exceeded all others.
At 3:00 PM, during the National Moment of Remembrance, we encourage everyone to stop for just one minute. Reflect on those who gave their lives in service to our nation. Say their names. Remember their stories. Honor their legacy.
Because while generations may pass, the debt we owe them can never be repaid.
Today, and every day, the Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety honors and remembers America's fallen heroes.
We will never forget.
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