Memorial Day & Sacrifice

Honoring Sacrifice

Today we celebrate Memorial Day. While many have this Monday off from work or school, some are still serving — as police, fire, ambulance, hospital and military personnel. It’s important to take time to reflect on this holiday. 

This is the day to remember those who gave their life in sacrifice for others, for us to enjoy freedom. Their noble acts of service cost them everything. Unfortunately, this ethic is something we are losing in our culture, even here in Oregon. Rather than sacrificing and giving to others, today our culture is increasingly self-centered. This culture is focused on rights as citizens —  to the point of making up benefit rights that hurt or hinder others — and woefully ignorant of our responsibilities to others. 

Here is a quick list of Rights & Responsibility of citizens from the U.S. Immigration Service.

• Freedom to express yourself.
• Freedom to worship as you wish.
• Right to a prompt, fair trial by jury.
• Right to vote in elections for public officials.
• Right to apply for federal employment requiring U.S. citizenship.
• Right to run for elected office.
• Freedom to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

• Support and defend the Constitution.
• Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.
• Participate in the democratic process.
• Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
• Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
• Participate in your local community.
• Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities.
• Serve on a jury when called upon.
• Defend the country if the need should arise.

Note what rights are missing from the list, but are often demanded by some in our society: rights for medical care, for food, for housing, to a minimum salary or benefits. It’s not that people should be denied these basics in life, but it is not everyone else’s responsibility to provide them. Also as you note the list of our responsibilities, ask yourself on this Memorial Day, how can you better serve your neighbor and community?

I'd encourage you to take a broader look. When you see people claiming injustice, ask yourself if they are responsible citizens in support of justice for others or just looking for a new exclusive right for themselves? Also ask what they are doing in their fight for right over wrong, and the personal sacrifices they make on behalf of others. The answers to those questions will show you the true and noble citizen, the ones we need as our political, religious and cultural leaders.

Happy Memorial Day. Let us remember and practice the virtue of sacrifice and give pause to the vice of self-indulgence.

Thank you for joining me in this pursuit. 

Best regards,

E. WERNER RESCHKE
State Representative, HD 55
The Crater Lake District

Capitol Phone 
(503) 986-1455

Capitol Address 
900 Court St. NE, H-383
Salem, OR 97301

Email
Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov

Website
www.oregonlegislature.gov/reschke