Appreciation Day!

Thank you to the men and women who risked and sacrificed their lives for equality and justice for the good of all Americans. God bless you! 

Your courage didn't come from comfort, but from a deep conviction. You stood strong even when it was risky, spoke out when silence seemed easier, and marched forward despite the high costs. Facing fire hoses, batons, bombs, bullets, prison cells, and even public scorn, you did all this not for yourself, but so that future generations could walk more freely, live more safely, and dream even bigger. You carried the burden of injustice on your shoulders and kept moving forward, driven by a heartfelt belief in a brighter, better future. 

Many of you have shown incredible courage, whether you were soldiers on distant fields, fighting against tyranny so that liberty could flourish at home, or you were foot soldiers right in your own neighborhoods. You’ve been freedom riders, civil rights workers, union organizers, suffragists, veterans, first responders, and everyday heroes who stood up against a world that sometimes forgets that human dignity is essential. You understand that equality isn’t just given to us, it’s something we earn, protect, and renew through our willingness to sacrifice for what’s right. 

Your sacrifices may not have always been recognized while you were alive. Some of you were laid to rest without much praise, and sometimes, you were misunderstood, misrepresented, or simply forgotten. But rest assured, heaven keeps a record of every step you took, every tear you shed, every wound you carried, and every prayer you whispered. God saw your lonely marches, your silent grief, the broken bodies, and the unbreakable spirits. He recognized your faith when the world tested it, and your love when hatred tried to drown it out. Your journey is truly remembered and cherished. 

Thanks to you, doors that were once closed are now open, and voices that were once unheard are now being heard. Unfair laws have been overturned. Children who were told “you cannot” now hear “you can.” You've helped change the moral climate of our nation by refusing to accept moral compromise. You've shown America that justice isn't a favor, it's a right, and that equality isn't just a trend, it's a truth. 

Your legacy is written not only in history books, but in classrooms, courtrooms, churches, workplaces, neighborhoods, and homes. It lives in every child who is treated with dignity, every vote that is cast freely, every worker who is protected, every citizen who walks without fear. Your sacrifice built bridges where there were walls and planted seeds of hope in soil once hardened by oppression. 

Today, we stand on ground you courageously cleared with blood, sweat, prayer, and perseverance. We are grateful for the freedoms you fought to secure for us. We speak from platforms you lifted with your efforts. We breathe air you worked hard to make fairer. And with heartfelt humility, we say thank you, not just in words but through a sincere commitment to live out the justice you bled for and the unity you believed in. 

May God's blessings be with your memory. Our thoughts are with your families during these times. We hold hope for strength for those still fighting for justice. Let us also remember that the greatest progress of this nation came from those who courageously risked everything, ensuring that all Americans could stand together in equality. 

God bless you, and God bless the legacy you left behind.