As I was driving out of Austin yesterday to visit family, I began to think about family and friends who served in the military and who have sacrificed their lives during times of conflict to protect all of us and our freedoms. While you are enjoying a quiet day off, the company of your family, or possibly friends today, let us not forget the fallen men and women in the Armed Forces whom we honor today.
Today one memory stands out for me. I had the great fortune to meet and befriend Mr. Dunn approximately 25 years ago. He was a neighbor at the time and had been a bomber pilot in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. He piloted a Consolidated B-24 Liberator and was proud to have contributed to one of the greatest efforts in world history to end the tyranny of evil men by “raining hell down on the Third Reich”, as he once said.
Mr. Dunn, like so many of his compatriots, is no longer with us, but their spirit of bravery and sacrifice lives on.I thank and salute all the fallen heroes from current and past conflicts as well as those who are still with us today who served — which include some members of our Vyopta team, grandfathers and grandmothers, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, cousins and friends.
We are blessed to have had those who have sacrificed themselves for all of us so that we may be free to live our lives the way we choose in the greatest — although at times imperfect — country in the world.
May you all have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend,