Dear Neighbor,
Memorial Day is Monday, the day we pay our respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
My fondest memories of this day from when I was young was attending the parades and going on family fishing trips. Although I have served in the military for more than 35 years, it only has been since 2005 that I have come to know the true meaning of this day.
On June 28, 2005 Sgt. Manny Hornedo was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device. Manny was a loss-prevention manager for GAP clothing who joined the Army National Guard in response to the 911 attacks.
He was a husband and father of two young boys.
Manny was my soldier. I was his commander. I was responsible for his safety, well-being and bringing him home. I only was able to bring him home. That visit to his family, his wife and boys, was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I knew that if it was my loved one, I would want the opportunity to ask questions about the event and bring closure to the death.
That day changed the way I viewed Memorial Day. It is the day that our nation honors those that gave all answering the call to duty. Every day is Memorial Day for me as I will never forget the sacrifice, the debt which cannot be repaid to those who died – and the families who grieve.
Memorial Day is the day you can join with me in honoring our war heroes, those who died in battle and those who have paid the price for our freedom. I plan on attending Memorial Day-related events this long weekend at Camp Ripley, the St. Cloud VA and Cold Spring. Please attend a Memorial Day ceremony and pay homage to those that gave us the freedoms we enjoy in this nation, the greatest nation on earth, the United States of America.
Sincerely,
Rep. Jeff Howe