Monday, May 28, is Memorial Day. It is one of our nation's most respected and solemn holidays, and I would encourage everyone to take time to remember and honor those who made the ulti­mate sac­ri­fice to pro­tect our freedom and our nation.

Many of us will gather with fam­ily and friends on this holiday to mark the beginning of the sum­mer sea­son, but I hope we will also remem­ber the brave men and women who gave so much to defend a way of life that we all cher­ish. It is also a day to pay tribute to the dedication and sacrifice of their families and loved ones, and it is a day to pray for the safe return of those still serving so far away.

The wonderful poet and writer Maya Angelou noted: "How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" I love how inclusive that statement is and how well it fits with our mission and our employees, too.

Finally, I'd like to personally extend my gratitude once again to those DHS staff who have served our country in the past and to those of you with family members serving today.

If you're looking for events to help celebrate Memorial Day, you can go to the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA) website for a statewide list of ceremonies.  Visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODVA/MemorialDay.shtml

Have a great holiday weekend.

~ Erinn

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