- 5/21/2025
On Wednesday, Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) held a Memorial Day ceremony at the Georgia State Capitol.
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01:00Good morning.
01:21I would like to welcome Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, our Gold Star families,
01:29Jewish guests, legislators, military members, veterans, friends, families, and other members
01:37of the community to this annual Memorial Day ceremony.
01:42On this day, we gather not in celebration, but in solemn remembrance.
01:49This year, May 8th, marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
01:54In his address in 1945, President Harry Truman reminded us,
01:59Our rejoicing is tempered by the sorrow and the heartaches which this victory has brought
02:06to the homes of so many of our neighbors and friends.
02:11His words remain just as true today as it captures both the joy of victory and the deep
02:17personal loss felt by families.
02:20A poignant balance that speaks directly to Memorial Day.
02:25Memorial Day is a time to honor the men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives
02:31in defense of our nation and of ideals that continue to shape the world.
02:38What makes their sacrifice so incredibly profound is that they gave their lives not for the
02:44people they knew, but for people they would never meet.
02:48For our future generations, for our neighbors across the country, and for the hope of peace
02:54beyond our borders.
02:56They stood in harm's way for freedom, justice, and the preservation of democracy.
03:03To our veterans here today, your service is a living testament to that same selfless commitment.
03:10To our civic leaders, your charge is to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten, that we
03:17preserve the freedoms they fought for through actions worthy of their courage.
03:23Let us honor the fallen, not only with remembrance, but with resolve.
03:28Let us strive to live in a way that upholds their legacy with gratitude, with integrity,
03:35and with purpose.
03:37May we always remember.
03:41Now I would like to invite the members of the Georgia National Guard to present the
03:45colors, then Representative Derek McCollum to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, Ms. Shelley
03:51Williams to sing our National Anthem, and Chaplain Colonel Kevin Peek to offer the invocation.
03:59For those that are able, please rise.
04:12One time, march.
04:26Left a bit, march.
04:32Color guard, halt.
04:36Present colors.
04:42Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
04:56I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for
05:06which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
05:21Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's
05:35last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, o'er the
05:45ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
05:53And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that
06:05our flag was still there.
06:10Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home
06:28of the brave?
06:35Order colors.
06:39One time, march.
06:45Left a bit, march.
06:49Forward march.
07:05I grew up in a military family and the significance was never lost on me that Memorial Day fell
07:27every year at the beginning of our summer festivities.
07:31As we readied to vacation, as we planned outings, as we prepared picnics, as we brought our
07:38season's passes to Six Flags, we were asked to remember and challenged to reflect upon
07:46the debt we owed to those who made these summers possible, who had paid the ultimate price
07:51to underwrite every activity we had planned, to say thank you, to show gratitude, and to
08:00honor their memories and their families for this tremendous gift, the defense and continuance
08:09of our founding doctrines and principles and the way of life that they make possible.
08:17Let us pray.
08:21Lord God, we give you thanks for the opportunity you have given us in this great country and
08:26this great state to live out the lives you have created for us and given to us in pursuit
08:32of fullness and happiness for ourselves and our loved ones.
08:38Yet you caution us in the book of Proverbs to pause before partaking in feasting and
08:44to reflect that one day we may be asked to put forth such a feast in the future and therefore
08:52to take note of how that feast is prepared.
08:58And so we recognize and so we remember those who have done so for us in imitation of you
09:07with the fullest gift of themselves in sacrificial service.
09:12We thank you for sending them into our world and for instilling in them the vision to see
09:18the temporal and immediate, the wisdom to understand what needed to be done, and the
09:26courage and fortitude to see it through without falter, reward their generosity with everlasting
09:33peace and glory, and bless their families with eternal hope and love.
09:41May we who gather today through your and their providence accompany our words with greater
09:49acts of dedication and devotion to the principles of truth and to the spirit of righteousness
09:58so that we may not fail to provide a feast of freedom to the next generation and the
10:05generation to come.
10:07May we who gather today be a witness to what that feast is worth and in whose blood it
10:15is provided.
10:18We ask this in the holy and sacred name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
10:23Amen.
10:25Please be seated.
10:29I would now like to introduce the representative of District 12 and member of the Appropriations
10:34Subcommittee on Veteran Affairs, Chairman Eddie Lumsden.
10:47Good morning.
10:49It's a pleasure to be here with you today.
10:53Memorial Day, as you know, is a day set aside to remember all those men and women serving
10:59in the military and in service who paid the supreme sacrifice to preserve our nation,
11:05our freedom, and our way of life.
11:08Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the American Civil
11:13War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
11:19Both Memorial Day and Veterans Day honor our American service members, but Memorial Day
11:25is also a day to remember those who served in service to our country and to the cause
11:30of freedom.
11:32Today we are here to honor and remember those who gave that last full measure of devotion.
11:39The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict
11:47in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country's first national cemeteries.
11:54Many families in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to honor
12:01those countless fallen soldiers decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.
12:08As a child, I remember visiting the graves on Decoration Day of family members and my
12:20father's family members who were killed during World War II.
12:23I remember hearing them speak in reverent tones about the lives of those they had known
12:33who lost their lives while serving.
12:38My dad was in the Eighth Air Force in World War II and seldom spoke about the friends
12:46he had lost.
12:50When he did, there was obvious pain in his voice.
12:58My mom had young men she knew in school who never came home.
13:05Thirty years ago, on the 50th anniversary of D-Day, I stood in the American Cemetery
13:14in Normandy, France, overlooking the beaches that American troops stormed on June 6, 1944
13:22in the initial battle to liberate Europe from the Nazis.
13:27The White Crosses told a sad tale about the cost of freedom.
13:34I walked through the bunkers and the battlements at Pointe du Hoc that had to be taken for
13:43the D-Day landing to be successful.
13:46There were many placards telling about what happened in that place, and while reading
13:51one of the inscriptions, I noticed a small, handmade sign, crudely affixed to the side
14:04written in pencil on a piece of wood.
14:07It was a simple note in a shaky hand which simply stated,
14:14One who survived here remembers those who did not.
14:23As a young man I knew in high school who lived a few houses up the road from me was killed
14:27in Vietnam, and the son of another friend was killed in Desert Storm.
14:33Yes, I remember them quite well, and I remember them here today.
14:39I believe President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address eloquently lays out the charge that
14:43those of his generation and future generations would have to answer to.
14:48It is a challenge still relevant today.
14:51In our day, we face new challenges, not only from those foreign foes who seek our destruction,
14:57but from those forces from within that want to change or do away with our Constitution
15:02or take away those liberties that those who have given that last full measure of devotion
15:06so valiantly fought to preserve.
15:10I believe it is incumbent upon us to see that they do not succeed.
15:15A nation that fails to learn from its history is doomed to repeat the mistakes made
15:22and suffer the consequences.
15:25We must heed that challenge and pass it on to the future generation.
15:30We must hear and respond to the challenge laid before us by President Lincoln
15:34on that warm November day in 1863 on the battlefield of Gettysburg.
15:39In the last few lines of his short challenge, his challenge is made clear
15:46that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain,
15:53that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom,
15:57and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
16:03That is our challenge. That is our mission.
16:07We have no choice but to succeed.
16:11Thank you, and I would now call on Major General Duane Wilson,
16:17our Adjutant General of the Georgia Department of Defense, to come in to make some remarks.
16:21Applause
16:35Good morning, everyone.
16:37It's certainly an honor to be here today.
16:40Governor and First Lady Kemp, thank you for allowing the Georgia National Guard
16:44to participate in this morning's ceremony.
16:46I'm grateful for the opportunity.
16:49I want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Shaley Williams for another amazing job
16:54singing the National Anthem.
16:56Applause
17:03And to one of the finest chaplains that I've ever worked with,
17:06Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Peek, for that outstanding invocation.
17:10We're blessed to have both of you on the team,
17:12and thank you all for what you do for our soldiers, airmen, and our families.
17:16To all of our previously recognized distinguished guests,
17:20our service members, past and present here today,
17:23friends and family, thank you all so much for joining us today
17:28for such an important event.
17:30And then finally, I want to especially thank our Gold Star families
17:35that are here with us this morning.
17:37The families of Specialist Travis Pimini,
17:41Sergeant Owen Elliott,
17:45both young men from the Georgia Army National Guard,
17:48and Staff Sergeant Ryan O'Hara from the United States Army.
17:53Our nation owes all of you a debt that can never be repaid.
17:58So thank you for your willingness to be here with us this morning.
18:03Memorial Day is a very special observance for our country.
18:08It's a day of reflection.
18:10It's a day of remembrance.
18:12It's a day of gratitude.
18:14This annual occasion provides an opportunity for us
18:17to honor those who have given their lives
18:20so that we may continue to live ours.
18:24America's heroes, men and women from all walks of life
18:27who made the ultimate sacrifice and service to our country.
18:33As we all know, freedom is not free.
18:36It comes with a price that's too often paid in full
18:39by America's greatest national treasure.
18:41Men and women in uniform have been defending America,
18:44our partners and allies,
18:46and our values around the globe for over 250 years.
18:50Since the birth of our nation,
18:52over 1.3 million patriots have given their last full measure
18:58for the freedoms that we're able to enjoy today in this country.
19:02The full weight of their sacrifice
19:05continues to be carried daily by their families,
19:08our Gold Star families.
19:10I think it's especially important that we must never forget
19:13that our nation's fallen were also sons and daughters,
19:16husbands and wives, fathers and mothers.
19:20As I reflect on the importance of this time of year
19:24and what it truly means to all of us,
19:26I'm reminded of the words of former President Ronald Reagan.
19:30President Reagan said that words can never repay
19:33the debt that we owe our fallen service members
19:36and their families.
19:38But surely, with our actions,
19:41we must strive to keep faith with them.
19:44Our fallen heroes have left all of us a legacy
19:47that we must honor and uphold.
19:49If we truly want to keep faith with them,
19:52we owe them the solemn promise that we will never forget,
19:57that their sacrifice to our state and to our nation
20:00was not in vain.
20:02Because of each one of them, each one of us
20:06can continue to enjoy what our Creator
20:09and our Founding Fathers intended for all,
20:12the gift of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
20:17We have a responsibility to all of them
20:20and their families to not take these precious gifts
20:23for granted.
20:25Their motivation was to keep their families,
20:27our communities, our state, and our nation
20:30safe and secure,
20:32to make America a better place for their children
20:35and for their grandchildren.
20:37To keep faith with them, as President Reagan was alluding to,
20:40we must strive daily to do the same.
20:43Our motivation and responsibility to each one of them
20:46and their families should be to simply make
20:49our lives matter.
20:52To make our time here, however long that may be,
20:55count for something good.
20:58To leave this world a little better than we found it.
21:01This is the best way that we can honor their service.
21:04As we spend time this week and weekend with family and friends
21:07at ballgames, picnics, on vacation,
21:10and other gatherings, let's not take for granted
21:13the selflessness of our nation's heroes.
21:17Take the time to remember the significance
21:20of their service.
21:22Take the time to remember the significance
21:25of their sacrifice.
21:27Remember to keep faith with them and their vision
21:29of freedom and liberty by making our lives count.
21:32Because of the fallen and their families,
21:35America will always remain the land of the free,
21:38the home of the brave, and the global guardian
21:41of freedom and liberty.
21:44God bless you all, your families, our state,
21:47and this great nation.
21:56So it's now my honor to introduce someone who truly understands
21:59the significance of today and the sacrifice of our fallen
22:02and their families, ladies and gentlemen,
22:05the 83rd governor of the great state of Georgia,
22:08Governor Brian Kemp.
22:16Thank you all very much.
22:19Thank you, General Wilson.
22:22We appreciate you and your team so much.
22:25Shelley, you never disappoint.
22:29With those great words and prayer,
22:32it is an honor for First Lady Marty Kemp and I
22:35to welcome you all to the state capitol
22:38for this year's Memorial Day ceremony.
22:41As the General and others said,
22:44it's an important time to recognize the high price
22:47paid for our freedoms that we hold so dear.
22:50I also want to thank our previous speakers today
22:53for their service to our nation
22:56and to our military and our veterans.
22:59Representative Derek McCollum,
23:02Derek, thank you for doing the pledge today.
23:05We appreciate your service in the Marine Corps
23:08and all that you do as a member of the General Assembly
23:11and the House of Representatives.
23:14Chairman Eddie Lumsden,
23:17a veteran of both the U.S. Air Force
23:20and the Georgia State Patrol,
23:23and as you were speaking about that,
23:26I could just visualize that place.
23:29It is incredible.
23:32I wish every American could see that.
23:35Colonel Ross, we just appreciate your service
23:38in the U.S. Air Force and certainly
23:41as a commissioner for the Department of Veteran Services
23:44and again, Major General Wilson,
23:47the leader of the men and women
23:50who serve abroad.
23:53Our veterans that are with us and our active duty folks,
23:56we are so appreciative of all of you and your families
23:59for what you give and sacrifice every single day.
24:02The other members of the General Assembly that are here,
24:05other members of the executive branch of state government,
24:08thank you all for being with us today
24:11to help us memorialize these great people,
24:14my fellow constitutional officers as well.
24:17In Georgia and in the United States,
24:20we have a lot of blessings to be thankful for.
24:23We live in a nation where we can freely gather
24:26with our friends and families,
24:29worship where and how we choose,
24:32speak our minds on issues,
24:35and achieve success through hard work and dedication.
24:38Our state has become a leader in so many things,
24:41including promoting a pro-business,
24:45providing access to a quality, affordable education,
24:48ensuring the safety of our citizens
24:51by cracking down on street gangs,
24:54violent crime, and human trafficking,
24:57and offering both residents and visitors alike
25:00experiences and culture
25:03that keeps Georgia on their minds.
25:06While we enjoy all the great benefits of life here in Georgia
25:09and the greatest nation in history,
25:12there is something that we cannot forget,
25:15and that is freedom is not free.
25:18It takes the service and sacrifice of brave men and women
25:21in our armed services to ensure we retain
25:24those blessings of life, liberty,
25:27and the ability to pursue happiness.
25:30That's what Memorial Day is all about,
25:33not just recognizing the service of our heroes,
25:36but honoring the sacrifice of those
25:39that have paid the ultimate price for our safety
25:42and our security.
25:45We know that as long as we stand as beacons
25:48of liberty and opportunity for all,
25:51there will be evil in this world
25:54that tries to extinguish that light.
25:57That is why we must never, ever forget
26:00these heroes, both past and present,
26:03who answered the call of duty and sacrifice
26:06everything for their family, their state,
26:09and their country.
26:12Heroes like Sergeant William Rivers,
26:15Specialist Kennedy Sanders,
26:18and Specialist Breonna Moffitt,
26:21whose families joined us last year to honor their service.
26:24We are blessed to have members of their families
26:27again with us today,
26:30and we will never forget their sacrifice.
26:33We will never forget that again
26:36as we remember and honor the sacrifice
26:39of three brave Georgians,
26:42Specialist Travis Jordan Pamini,
26:45Sergeant Owen Elliott,
26:48and Staff Sergeant Ryan O'Hara.
26:51Both at home and abroad,
26:54these three heroes put themselves
26:57in harm's way to ensure the continued strength
27:01We know nothing we say or do
27:04can ever repay the debt of gratitude
27:07that we owe these three Georgians.
27:10But on this solemn day, we can recommit ourselves
27:13to carrying their memory forward,
27:16as we do for all those who sacrificed and served.
27:19We are honored to have these families with us today.
27:22It means more to us than you know.
27:25To the Pamini, Elliott, and O'Hara families,
27:28thank you for your strength
27:31and for your incredible bravery of your loved one.
27:34We are continuing to pray for you today and every day
27:37as you bear these painful losses.
27:40And to all the others here today
27:43who have lost a loved one in service,
27:46please know that Marty, the girls, and I
27:49hold you each in our hearts and prayers.
27:52Long after this ceremony is over,
27:55know that the Kemp family and the state of Georgia
27:58stands with our military, our veterans,
28:01and their families.
28:04As we prepare to hear the solemn notes of TAPS,
28:07please remember the three heroes we honor today
28:10as well as all of those who have given
28:13the last full measure of devotion
28:16to these United States of America.
28:19Following TAPS, Colonel Peake will give our benediction
28:22and conclude today's ceremony.
28:25May God bless you and may God continue to bless our country
28:28and this great state that we are honored to live in.
28:31Applause
28:34Music
29:04Music
29:34Music
29:46Music
30:04Music
30:16Years ago, I actually learned that there's words
30:19to the TAPS.
30:22And in a sense, it's a prayer all on its own.
30:25And if you're not familiar, I'd like to share those words with you now,
30:28at least just the first verse.
30:32Day is done.
30:35Gone the sun.
30:38From the lakes, from the hills,
30:41from the sky.
30:44Safely rest.
30:47All is well.
30:50God is nigh.
30:53Let us pray.
30:56O Lord, support us all the day long
30:59of this troublous life
31:02until the shades lengthen
31:05and the evening comes,
31:08the busy world is hushed,
31:11the fever of life is over
31:14and our work is done.
31:17Then Lord, in thy mercy,
31:20grant us safe lodging,
31:23peace at the first
31:26and peace at the last.
31:29Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
31:32Amen.
31:35This concludes today's ceremony.
31:38Thank you for your attendance
31:41in honor of our fallen and our heroes.
31:44God bless you all.
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