105 Patriotic Memorial Day Quotes, Messages and Sayings to Honor Our Nation's Veterans

On Monday, May 27, 2024, Americans across the country will celebrate the brave servicemen and servicewomen who died defending our country. Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer, often a weekend filled with family get-togethers, pool parties, parades, and backyard cookouts. But the true meaning of Memorial Day is a much more solemn occasion. It’s a day of remembrance to honor the sacrifice made by the men and women who have died during their service in the United States military.

Whether you celebrate by hosting a backyard BBQ get-together or having a simple and intimate moment of silence with your loved ones, Memorial Day is a special time to honor America's history and commemorate the bravery, courage and honor of our troops, as the following Memorial Day quotes show. Even though the holiday is a time to celebrate the freedom we have in America, we should never forget that that very freedom came at the expense of the brave heroes who lost their lives fighting to protect it. Considering the somber meaning behind the holiday, wishing someone a “Happy Memorial Day” could be considered insensitive.

We’ve gathered a list of the most dignified and patriotic Memorial Day quotes, messages and greetings to offer to honor our nation's veterans who sacrificed everything to fight for our freedom as Americans. What should you say instead of “Happy Memorial Day?” The Memorial Day quotes listed below honor those servicemen and servicewomen who never came home. There are messages that you can share with the parents or loved ones of a warrior killed in action, Memorial Day greetings that you can use in a speech honoring the fallen, and sayings that you can use on an invitation for a Memorial Day Weekend party. Combine them with one of these patriotic Memorial Day quotes or Memorial Day Instagram captions to honor those who gave their all.

50 Memorial Day Quotes

1. “Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.”- Barack Obama

2. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them.” - John F. Kennedy

3. "Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion."- Calvin Coolidge

4. "Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering."- Theodore Roosevelt

5. "Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them."- Franklin D. Roosevelt

6. “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”- General Douglas MacArthur

7. “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”- Eleanor Roosevelt

8. "A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."- Joseph Campbell

9. “Never was so much owed by so many few.”- Winston Churchill

10. “The patriot’s blood is the seed of freedom’s tree.” -Thomas Campbell

11. “Home of the free, because of the brave.” - Unknown

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12. “To those in uniform serving today and to those who have served in the past, we honor you today and every day.”- Unknown

13. "It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle."- Norman Schwarzkopf

14."The brave die never, though they sleep in dust, their courage nerves a thousand living men."- Minot J. Savage

15. “May we never forget freedom isn't free."- Unknown

16. “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.”- James Allen

Related: Memorial Day History

17. “Veterans are a symbol of what makes our nation great, and we must never forget all they have done to ensure our freedom.”- Rodney Frelinghuysen

18. "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it."- Unknown

19. “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.”- George S. Patton

20. “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”- Benjamin Disraeli

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21. "For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue."- James A. Garfield

22. "Who kept the faith and fought the fight; The glory theirs, the duty ours."- Wallace Bruce

23. "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."- Elmer Davis

24. "Ceremonies are important. But our gratitude has to be more than visits to the troops, and once-a-year Memorial Day ceremonies. We honor the dead best by treating the living well."- Jennifer M. Granholm

25. “Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.”- Mary Roach

26. "Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death."- Sun Tzu

Related: The Best Memorial Day Instagram Captions

27. "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die."- G.K. Chesterton

28. "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."- Adlai Stevenson II

29. "And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave."- Joseph Rodman Drake

30. “America without her soldiers would be like God without His angels.”- Claudia Pemberton

31. "So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good."- Helen Keller

32. "Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory there would be no civilization, no future."- Elie Wiesel

33. "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." – Adlai Stevenson

34. “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.”- Charles de Gaulle

35. “I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it.”- John Thune

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36. “The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.”- Jeff Miller

37. "I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism."- Bob Riley

38. "There is nothing nobler than risking your life for your country."- Nick Lampson

39. "Over all our happy country – over all our Nation spread, is a band of noble heroes– is our Army of the Dead."- Will Carleton

40. "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."- John F. Kennedy

41. "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."- Martin Luther King, Jr.

42. "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."- Nathan Hale

43. "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right in America."- William J. Clinton

44. "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."- Mark Twain

45. "What I can do for my country, I am willing to do."- Christopher Gadsen

46. “A man is a patriot if his heart beats true to his country.” - Charles E. Jefferson

47. “Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.”- John Adams

48. “If you want to thank a soldier, be the kind of American worth fighting for.” - Unknown

49. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”- Ronald Reagan

50. “Let their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.” - Daniel Webster

55 Memorial Day Messages

1. Let us remember all our heroes who have left us while fighting for our country.

2. Thank you to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

3. This Memorial Day, we remember those heroes who courageously gave their lives.

4. In honor of those who fought for our freedom until their dying breath, we remember and thank them on this Memorial Day.

5. Fallen, but not forgotten.

6. Join us today to count our blessings and stand proud.

7. This Memorial Day, our deepest gratitude goes to the fallen men and women who gave the citizens of the United States a chance to make this world a better place.

8. Let us gather together in celebration and remembrance of our heroes who have fallen.

9. Let’s take a moment of silence to remember and honor the sacrifices of the thousands of men and women who gave up their lives for our country.

10. Join us this Memorial Day as we remember and honor our heroes.

11. We don’t know them all, but we owe them all.

12. We are forever grateful for the ultimate sacrifice of those who died for our country. May their courage and dedication never be forgotten.

13. Let’s remember our fallen service members with pride this Memorial Day.

14. The brave hearts never die… they sleep in the embrace of their soil.

15. Thank you to all those who have guarded my freedom and peace.

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16. Our flag doesn’t fly because the wind moves it, but because of the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.

17. Take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to honor those who served our nation and are no longer with us.

18. If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a soldier.

19. Join us in praise of the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in the name of the United States of America.

20. Each Memorial Day, we honor those who died for the United States. May their sacrifice be a constant reminder of things that matter.

21. To the brave men and women we have lost: You are forever in our hearts and minds. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

22. May this Memorial Day bring you good memories of your son. We are forever grateful for his service to our country and his great courage.

23. This Memorial Day and every day, we appreciate all the great deeds and sacrifices done to grant us a chance to enjoy freedom.

24. On Memorial Day, we remember those fallen heroes who left a mark on our history.

25. Land of the free, because of the brave.

26. In honor of Memorial Day, let us take inspiration from the brave soldiers who gave up their lives and become good citizens of our nation.

27. Today is a day to honor every patriot who shed his or her blood for the freedom of our country. Let’s bow our heads with respect in remembrance of all those men and women.

28. Never forget the price we’ve paid for our independence.

29. Today is the day to thank all those who died for our freedom—we will never forget their sacrifices.

30. This Memorial Day, we thank the fallen heroes of America who gave their lives to serve the nation.

31. Real heroes never die. They always live in our hearts to inspire us, motivate us, and guide us in our lives.

32. Join us this Memorial Day as we remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

33. Remember our fallen heroes on Memorial Day. They are the reason that we are free.

34. We should strive to live by the liberties and principles for which our bravest soldiers fell.

35. We salute our fallen and give thanks for our freedom on this Memorial Day.

36. We appreciate all the great deeds and sacrifices of our fallen heroes that grant us a chance to enjoy freedom.

37. The blood and sweat of our patriots sowed the seeds of the blessings of freedom and prosperity we enjoy today. May those brave heroes never be forgotten, on Memorial Day and every day.

38. On Memorial Day, we thank all the servicemen and women who are no longer with us for protecting our country by giving away their lives.

39. Let Memorial Day be a day to count our blessings and remember those who serve to protect our country and our freedom.

40. They never came back, their silence lives on. We remember the fallen this Memorial Day.

41. As you enjoy this weekend, the unofficial start of summer, remember what Memorial Day is really about: Those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

42. We owe so much to those fallen heroes that we can never repay. Remember them with honor this Memorial Day.

43. May each one of us take inspiration this Memorial Day from the patriotism of the brave soldiers who died for our country.

44. To the loved ones we have lost: You are forever in our hearts and minds. Your service and sacrifice to our country will never be forgotten.

45. Take a moment this weekend to honor those who served our nation and are no longer with us.

46. Remember all our uniformed heroes this Memorial Day who made the last sacrifices to defend our country.

47. Our deepest gratitude goes to our beloved sons and daughters who gave us a chance to make this world a better place.

48. On Memorial Day, we keep alive the memory of those who died for our country.

49. Their peace lives in our hearts. Honor America’s heroes by repaying them for what they did with your respect this Memorial Day.

50. Nothing is more patriotic than laying down your life for the sake of your country. On Memorial Day, we remember those brave souls.

51.  America stands strong thanks to the sacrifice of many. Today, we honor all who served and gave their lives to protect our freedoms.

52. No words can compensate for the loss of the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives. We respect them, honor them, and forever remember them.

53. Memorial Day will always be an important day in the history of America—the day to remember with glory all of those who fought for our nation and sacrificed their lives.

54. May the memories of your daughters and sons give us the strength and motivation to continue working to make our country a better place.

55. We all owe a debt to those brave heroes who fought for our country and gave their all. We can never repay them for their bravery and dedication.

Next, test your knowledge with these Memorial Day trivia questions.

With reporting by Michelle Parkerton.