Happy Memorial Day

A Memorial Day Message from the Machinists Union

Sisters and Brothers,

As we celebrate Memorial Day this year, we must not to forget the men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives defending our nation and our way of life.

As patriotic Americans, the IAM family has strong respect for our nation’s lost heroes. Although some may take for granted the freedoms we all enjoy, they came at great cost and sacrifice. Many of our members actively serve or are military veterans. Tens of thousands of Machinists work to support our armed forces at bases, arsenals and factories across the country.

Please enjoy this holiday weekend and I hope you will display our nation’s flag with pride, in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

In solidarity,

Bob Martinez

International President

Memorial Day is a day to honor those who died in service to their country. One of the ways we do this is by flying the Flag of the United States. If you would like to learn about the history of the Flag and proper etiquette while displaying it check here: Our Flag

LEST WE FORGET THE REAL MEANING OF THE DAY…

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, on the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The cemetery site, at the north end of its half mile access road, covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. On the Walls of the Missing, in a semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial, are inscribed 1,557 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, on the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The cemetery site covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. On the Walls of the Missing, in a semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial, are inscribed 1,557 names.

“It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives — the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember.”

President Ronald Reagan