Memorial Day - Remembering Those Who Served

May 20, 2015

The below is reprinted with permission of Sen. Kraus.

Some Americans have no idea what Memorial Day is all about. Some have forgotten or maybe just don't think about it. That's why, 15 years ago, the U.S. Congress passed “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” to encourage Americans to remember the purpose of Memorial Day and to share a moment of silence.

As a veteran, I especially hope that you will embrace this moment, take a break from whatever you're doing at 3 p.m. local time on Monday, May 25th, and maintain just sixty seconds of silence in honor of the brave military men and women who have given their lives in service to America so that we might continue to enjoy the blessings of freedom.

I know that many of you have relatives who made this ultimate sacrifice, and I would like to ask you to join me and millions of other veterans in what we think is a most fitting tribute to them: our ongoing campaign to lessen the likelihood of war (and the casualties it causes) by securing the energy independence of America.

Some of our wars have been fought, at least in part, to maintain access to foreign sources of energy for ourselves and our allies. But, if we made full use of the abundant energy resources we have right here in America, there would be no need to risk the lives of our military men and women in defense of other nations' resources.

Vets4Energy supports an all-of-the-above approach to domestic energy development. Fossil fuels, nuclear, wind, solar, hydro, bio – let's develop them all!

The sooner America is energy-independent, the sooner we will be assured that our fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters will not have to be sent into harm's way to protect access to some other nation's energy reserves.

This Memorial Day, please observe a moment of silence for our fallen warriors, then join the battle for an energy-independent America.

Sincerely,

Will Kraus
Missouri State Senator, District 8

Senator Will Kraus joined the United States Army in 1992 and served in active duty and the reserves.  He currently serves in the Missouri National Guard.