President Carter’s Memorial Day Remarks

On May 25, 2026, FMU President Luther F. Carter was invited to speak at the Memorial Day Ceremonies at the Florence National Cemetery.

Colonel Carter had previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for 30 years. During this time, he commanded an infantry company, a landing support company, and a tank company. He also taught at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Marine Corps University and served two summers on the staff of the Secretary of Defense. He retired in 2001 in his dream billet as the Commanding Officer of the Reserve Support Command, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina — where it all begins.

Here are his remarks:

Good morning-

Thank you for inviting me to join you today. I am always humbled to be a part of any occasion that recognizes those who wore the uniform and swore the oath.

In inviting me to make these remarks today, Charlie reminded me that honoring those who didn’t come home is a veteran’s sacred privilege. Over a million men and women have died in service to our country. We owe this day to their memory and legacy. May they stay forever young and nestled in the arms of a loving god.

Although Charlie would not have known this when he invited me, but I was born on May 30^th – the original Memorial Day – or Decoration Day, as it was called then.

So, every birthday I would receive a lecture on the importance of the day from my father, who served in the Army artillery during WWII. Later in the day, my older brother who served with the Army’s Big Red One would come by to remind me of the traditions of the holiday.

But the real meaning of the day always came from my mom’s placing flags on grave markers while audibly reading names and reminding me that I was fortunate to have a birthday on Decoration Day. As you can see, Memorial Day was an important holiday for my family.

Here are four reasons why it is even more important today.

1. It is about Sacrifice.

Today is not Veterans Day, nor is it the 4^th of July. Those are both important occasions, but this day rises to a different standard.

Today is about sacrifice and recognizing those who died serving their country. It is also about the Gold Star families who were left behind. You all remember Gold Star families, don’t you? Let me remind you: we may have lost our friends, but they lost their sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters. The fallen, and their gold star families, should always be the most honored among us – every single day.

For most of us, today is also about reverence for those who died and respect for why they died. If you never learned that or don’t understand it, you really don’t need to be here. You are in the wrong place with the wrong crowd. Come back when you understand.

You see, today is a hero’s holiday…it’s dedicated to sacrifice, not simply service.

2. Today celebrates the Harsh Reality of Patriots

Let me make this point abundantly clear – today involves much more than simply waving the flag; it is about the founding fathers and their belief in a unique system of governance. Three levels, three branches, and a list of fundamental and imperative freedoms. These are all freedoms worth living for, and they are all freedoms worth dying for.

This is not about ideology or politics. We do not always agree about the nature of these freedoms but therein lies their majesty and mystique. We have a constitution that governs us democratically and fairly. And this country has survived as the finest constitutional republic in history. If you and I address our obligations as citizens, it always will. I mean no disrespect, but if you want a new constitution, go someplace else and write it.

And our warriors? The people we send into battle are the most resolute and best prepared troops in the world. If you have doubts about that, I will be glad to take you down to Parris Island or over to Fort Jackson one afternoon and show you around. The lessons they learn there are truly transformational, and the change in those young Marines, sailors, airman, soldiers, and coasties – well, those changes are forever.

All they ask from you is to honor their commitment, pay them a decent salary, and give them livable pensions after they retire. Oh, and provide them and all veterans with an adequate health care system. That’s part of the deal, you know – and it doesn’t change if the national economy gets a little rough.

There’s another part of the deal. They deserve thoughtful, prudent, and discerning leaders. Nothing irritates me more than for politicians to swagger around bragging about “boots on the ground.” If only it were so easy, but those boots are connected to men and women with families, dreams, and aspirations. There is nothing symbolic about their service. Serving one’s country is lonely, desolate, gritty, frightening, and sometimes excruciatingly painful.

And what does their service mean? Well, it’s not gift to any of us; it stems from a sense of obligation to our nation and our way of life. So don’t simply thank someone for their service; respect them for it. And stop believing that someone else’s sons and daughters should always make these sacrifices. It is our country; all of our families should share this burden.

Of course, we share another obligation too – to those who served along side us. This takes me to the next point.

3. Today brings us all together as brothers and sisters-in-arms.

Yes, today’s not Veteran’s Day, but it does sound like a clarion call to everyone who has ever worn the uniform.

Those who serve understand a fundamental adherence to honor, country, duty – especially duty. And let’s be honest, this part of the conversation is about those who served — not about those who almost signed up, but…

Enough said, you get it.

So, all of us enjoy joking about our sister services, especially those with whom we have long-standing feuds…Army/Navy…Navy/Marines…the Air Force and everyone else. Sorry, I just couldn’t resist it. That’s the price you Airedales pay for good food and great housing.

But there is no rivalry across this field on occasions such as this. Today we all remember:

– The Army rangers going up the cliffs at Pont du Hoc in Normandy.

– The Marines raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi

– The Navy Torpedo Bombers at Midway

– The Air Force pilots flying in MiG Alley

– The Navy corpsmen and Army medics running to the sound of the guns. By the way, may God bless every corpsman and medic who ever lived. All of them deserve a free pass through heaven’s gates.

– The Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard medevac chopper pilots flying in horrible weather under the withering fire of RPGs to bring the wounded out and the dead home. Another pass through heaven’s gates.

As we stand here today, we salute all services with one mission and one purpose…and the heroes of every service belong to all of us. They are all our sons and daughters.

4. No Day Invokes Deeper, More Intense Memories about Those Who Didn’t Come Home

This holiday is about real patriots, not fictious characters. For most veterans, it is filled with bittersweet memories about those with whom we served.

Let me close by telling you about a fellow Marine and dear friend. He is ever with me, especially on Memorial Day.

Andrew Davis and I first met and trained together at the Marine Corps Basic School in Quantico 54 years ago. We were friends and suite mates who shared a variety of adventures as the Marine Corps did their best to mold us into infantry officers.

But Andy had a distinct advantage over me. He was a distinguished graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and was one of the most capable people that I ever met. Everything was easy for Andy, the tactics, the leadership, and the discipline.

He was so accomplished that he made the training easier for me. Only the top twenty-five percent of Marine lieutenants were assigned to the infantry back then. Andy had made it. I was compelled to earn it with his help.

We finally graduated. He went to the 3^rd Marine Division as an infantry officer, and I went to the 2^nd Marine Division, also as an infantry officer. We corresponded over the next decade, until the summer of 1982, when we served together in a combined fire exercise at Camp Lejeune. We enjoyed two wonderful weeks of reunion and remembrance, even if it was all spent in the field.

Fifteen months later, I was astonished to watch a CNN broadcast of the terrorist bombing on a Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. On October 23, 1983, two hundred and twenty Marines, eighteen sailors, and three soldiers died when a truck carrying thousands of pounds of explosives drove into the headquarters of the 1^st Bn, 8^th Marines. As the executive officer of 1/8, Major Andrew Davis was right where he was meant to be, serving alongside the Marines in his battalion.

Andy was the best among all of us at Quantico. In thirty years of regular and reserve service, I never served with a better officer, nor a finer man.

Nor have I ever served with anyone who had more love for his country and Corps. He died in a distant conflict that most Americans remember only vaguely if they’ve heard of it at all. But I do remember, and I always will.

Andy is with me from time to time. He comes and he goes…more frequently, as I get older and grow melancholy. Many of you here understand those feelings well.

But he is always here on Memorial Day. Please pray for Andy tonight, and all of those other comrades whose lives and deaths we cherish today.

God Bless You and Semper Fidelis.