The following is a speech given by Nebraska National Guard's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Roger P. Lempke, during the Memorial Day ceremony held 29 May 2006 at the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice, Nebraska.

"Any nation that does not honor its hero's will not long endure." - Abraham Lincoln

Thank you for this opportunity to honor the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have proudly served our nation and have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free for over 230 years.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our nation from the Revolutionary War to the present. Unlike Veterans Day, which is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of all living veterans, Memorial Day is a sacred day of remembrance for all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to our country. As one of our nation’s veteran service organizations states:
"America's collective consciousness demands that all citizens be reminded of the deaths of their fellow countrymen during wartime. By honoring the nation's war dead, we preserve their memory and thus their service and sacrifice."

On the bloody battlefields of the Civil War, the American soldier fought to save the union and promote human dignity. Total deaths from the Civil War are recorded at 192,000.

From the trenches of Europe during the "Great War", the American soldier fought to preserve democracy. In a war, unfortunately, that did not end all wars as hoped. Over 53,000 American service members were killed in that war.

A generation later, American service members were called again by our nation to end the spread of worldwide tyranny. World War II saw our military forces fight and defeat enemies in both Europe and the Pacific. But at a cost of nearly 300,000 lives. Beatrice and Southeast Nebraska remember well the 134th Infantry Regiment and in particular, Company C. "All hell can't stop us" was their motto. They proved it true at St. Lo and The Battle of the Bulge. But the cost was high. A letter from Staff Sgt Charles Young of Filley spoke of the battle for St. Lo.
"We took the town, but, oh, the price we had to pay. I cannot tell the names of the boys; they will be in the (Beatrice Daily) Sun before long. There are so few of us left you would never know it was Company C."

Often called the Forgotten War, the Korean Conflict was our first fight against Communism. Over 33,000 service members died and some at home wondered about the reasons for this war. Nearly forty years later, however, Communism would fall.

In Vietnam, American service members once again spilled their blood and died to end the threat of Communism and to preserve freedom. Over 47,000 died. Unfortunately, many of those returning did not often receive the welcome and support worthy of their effort from a confused nation. Today I would like to offer a special acknowledgement to those who served in Vietnam: "Welcome home, welcome home."

We cannot forget also those killed in numerous skirmishes and police actions during the 1980's. The Persian Gulf War known as “Desert Storm” cost this nation 147 lives.

On September 11, 2001 an enemy struck our homeland and changed our nation forever. Today the nation is engaged in a struggle that threatens our very safety here at home. The sacrifice has already been significant. Through 26 May 2006 2,462 American service members have been killed in Iraq and over 500 in Afghanistan. This number includes two soldiers from Southeast Nebraska:

* Specialist Darren Howe, Beatrice
* Sgt Nick Nolte, Falls City

The youth of our nation continues to fight and die for a cause larger then themselves. These young soldiers are continuing an unending line of proud citizens who answered our nation's call to duty. Their sacrifices and that of their families, in answering the call to duty will preserve our freedom for generations to come. The American people must continue to support our soldiers, sailors, airman, and marines by honoring their service and welcoming them home.

Our nation is experiencing unsurpassed prosperity. We are blessed with instant communications and internet access. We are often more concerned with the American Idol then our American ideals. Yet we are still able to call upon its sons and daughters to go into harm’s way to protect us and defend freedom.

President Ronald Reagan said it best with these words:
"Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again."

And finally, the reason you are here today is summed up simply but eloquently by President George W. Bush: "This nation does not forget."

God bless you, And God bless this Great Nation: The United States of America.