Memorial Day 2023: Quotes about patriotism, freedom
Memorial Day is a day to remember those who gave their lives in defense of the country.
Here are a few quotes about patriotism and freedom.
- “A hero is someone who has given his of her life to something bigger than oneself.” — Joseph Campbell
- “A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers and woods, it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.” — George William Curtis
- “All you have to do is hold your first soldier who is dying in your arms, and have that terribly futile feeling that I can’t do anything about it … Then you understand the horror of war.” — Norman Schwarzkopf
- “Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.” — Otto von Bismarck
- “I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism. ” — Bob Riley
- “Only the dead have seen the end of war.” — Plato
- “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” — Mark Twain
- “The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one’s country deep enough to call her to a higher plain.” — George McGovern
- “The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth.” — Stonewall Jackson
- “The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s Tree.” — Thomas Campbell
- “These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor – and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free from threats of terror.” — Michael N. Castle
- “They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this nation.” — Henry Ward Beecher
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member walks through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members adjust one another’s backpacks ahead placing flags in front of gravesites as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members place a small American flag in front of a grave site as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member, carrying small American Flags, is interviewed in Arlington National Cemetery for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members walk through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members place a small American flag in front of a grave site as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member hands out small American flags to be put in front of gravesites as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members place a small American flag in front of a grave site as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members walk through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member places a flag at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member hands out small American flags to be put in front of gravesites as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member places a flag at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member walks through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member walks through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members place a small American flag in front of a grave site as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member places a small American flag in front of a gravesite as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member walks through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members place a small American flag in front of a gravesite as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member places small American flags in front of a gravesites as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members place a small American flag in front of a grave site as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members walk through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members walks through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member walsk through “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members walk through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: Service members walk through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member walks through Arlington National Cemetery carrying small American Flags for the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – MAY 27: A service member places small American flags in front of a gravesites as part of the “Flags In” ceremony ahead of the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. For the first time in 20 years, members from all joint services worked to place flags at each of the 260,000 headstones in the cemetery. The cemetery recently announced they would be relaxing the visitor restrictions imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected ceremonies and traditions over the last year. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
