At the pageant I was asked by the judges how I felt about the way national holidays such as Memorial Day and Labor Day are celebrated. My answer was that I think that these holidays, which were intended to honor the proud men and women who've served our country, have been grossly distorted. I said I think these holidays have become so commercialized that they have lost a lot of their original intent. Instead of honoring the veterans. we focus on eating, spending, and buying more things we don't need. We have plenty of flags, but not enough spirit. We have lots of barbecue, but not enough intestinal fortitude, we have a great deal of bravado, but far too little backbone.

What I would like to focus on this Memorial Day is the thousands of men and women who have given their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom. They did not rush over to Iraq in droves. In many cases they were compelled to go, but that doesn't make their service any less important. To the families of those who gave their lives, I appreciate what your son and daughters have done for the people of Iraq. I appreciate their service to protect and preserve our freedom. I won't be buying a flag or eating any barbecue, but I will be thanking God that I live over here and not over there. I'm proud to be an American today and do not take my freedom for granted.