(RealClearWire) — In our history as a nation we have lost many good servicemen and servicewomen. I, and many of you, have personally lost precious loved ones to the necessary cost of our freedom. Their day of recognition has been promoted from the honor of Veterans Day to the sanctity of Memorial Day.
In 2012 I was the team lead in Benghazi, Libya. The infamous attack in September of that year — which inspired the movie titled “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” — occurred just weeks after I rotated home. The end of the movie depicts diplomats and military personnel receiving promotions and medals, which prompted the SEAL team to ask; “What about us, what do we get?” John Krasinski’s character replies, “We get to go home.”
I was one of the fortunate ones who did get to go home. I get to raise my kids, coach my kids, argue over homework, chase dreams — and sometimes even catch them. But let me be clear: Just because I came home doesn’t mean my service ended. You won’t find me sitting still for long. You won’t find me chasing comfort or mediocrity. It is not just a privilege to live well; it is my duty.
From time to time, people stop me and say, “Thank you for your service.” I’m always grateful for their appreciation — but the truth is, I never stopped serving. The oath I took didn’t have an expiration date. It wasn’t tied to a paycheck or a uniform. That oath was a promise — to protect this nation, to stand for its values, and to honor those who paid the ultimate price. That promise lives on in the lives of the children and grandchildren of my fallen brothers and sisters. And so I continue to serve, not with a weapon in my hands, but by living with intention, with integrity, and with a heart still bound to the mission.
The previous few years, Memorial Day had started to feel more like a slap in the face than a solemn tribute. Politicians would line up to offer rehearsed speeches and lay wreaths with solemn expressions — and then return to their offices and vote for policies that chip away at the very foundation built upon the blood and sacrifice of our nation’s fallen. It was hypocrisy at its finest, and for many of us who wore the uniform, it stung deeply.
But the wind has changed.
With a new administration in place and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the helm, there’s finally a sense of moral clarity and backbone returning to our national defense. A veteran himself, Secretary Hegseth understands that honoring the fallen means more than symbolic gestures. It means standing firm in our values, strengthening our military culture, and rebuilding the public’s trust in the institutions that defend this country. One clear sign of this shift? For the first time in years, U.S. military recruitment is on the rise. That’s not just a statistic — it’s a signal that young Americans are starting to believe in something again. They’re stepping forward not because they were promised comfort, but because they were shown conviction.
This momentum is not something to take lightly. It’s an opportunity to shore up the crumbling foundation of this nation, to reinforce it with truth, accountability, and action. It’s a fortuitous moment that should not be wasted on self-interest. It should be used to rebuild what matters: faith in service, strength in community, and honor for those who gave their last full measure of devotion.
Enjoy your holiday weekends. Hold your families close, laugh loud, and make memories — but don’t let the meaning of the day slip by. Take the time to teach your children what Memorial Day truly stands for. Remind them that the freedom they enjoy wasn’t given; it was earned by those who paid the ultimate price. And while they bought our liberty with their lives, it’s up to us to preserve it through vigilance, responsibility, and gratitude that produces action.
My duty to my country is never done. Whenever someone asks me, “What have you done for your country?” My answer will forever be, “NOT ENOUGH!”
This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.
Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham, CEO of Able Shepherd, is a veteran Navy SEAL and former CIA Global Response Staff Protective Officer with over two decades of experience in high-risk environments worldwide. He and his team train civilians, law enforcement, and first responders across the U.S. in armed and unarmed response to active threats to improve community safety and preparedness.
