Memorial Day is much more than a long holiday weekend, it's a solemn reminder of the hundreds of thousands of American men and women who have given their lives to preserve the freedom we hold so dear.

William Cooper

I hope you will be joining me on Monday in giving thanks to all of those who have served before and praying for the safe return of those who are still in combat overseas.

We need to do everything we can to ensure that, when those soldiers are safely back at home and their service is done, they have every opportunity to enjoy the American dream they have been fighting to protect.

When my father returned home to South Carolina from his service in the Korean War, he came back to an America that was full of promise and possibility. He worked hard, and along with my grandfather, started a business that is still thriving over fifty years later.

Most of the men and women in our armed forces are not career soldiers, and we need to ensure that when today's soldiers come home, they have the tools they need to succeed: education, access to quality health care, and employment opportunities.

From the early days of the Revolutionary War, South Carolina's sons and daughters have always stepped up to the challenge to defend our way of life, and far too many of them have paid the ultimate price. Memorial Day is an opportunity to not only reflect on what has been sacrificed, but also to look forward and make the most of the freedom those fallen soldiers were fighting for.

Thank you and please have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

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