Friend,

Memorial Day is a time for grilling in the backyard, marching in parades, and spending time with family. But it's also much more than that. Today, we pause and reflect on the tremendous sacrifice made by those who gave their lives in the service of our country.

It is thanks to their sacrifice that we have the right to vote, to protest, to speak freely and to take part in the never-ending project of building a better world than the one we inherited.

One of the best parts of my job is meeting with veterans across Fairfield County and thanking them for their service. But you don't have to be a Congressman to show your appreciation for those who made it home and remember those who didn't.

Let's each find a moment today to pause by a local memorial that we usually walk or drive right by in the course of our busy lives. Let's reach out to someone in our community who lost a loved one and let them know we haven't forgotten their sacrifice. And let's set partisanship aside, at least for a day, so that we can join together in honoring the men and women who answered the call.

With deep gratitude,

— Jim