Although Memorial Day unofficially kicks off summer and all its activities and festivities, I urge my North Carolina neighbors to take time this Memorial Day to pause to remember those whose sacrifice on the battlefield have purchased us the freedom we too often take for granted.

From the Revolutionary War's struggle for independence from British rule to today's struggle against terrorism and tyranny in Iraq and Afghanistan, American blood has been shed generation after generation to defend our country, our interests and our ideals. Those who have died in these struggles have paid what President Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion." In their actions, our soldiers have fulfilled the duty spelled out in our nation's mission statement, the Declaration, "to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity."

This year's Memorial Day celebration will focus on the fallen American heroes of World War II, the greatest conflict in history. Today, we have more than 134,000 World War II veterans in North Carolina. Next month we will observe the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of the continent of Europe by the Allied forces of America, Canada and Great Britain. And in Washington this Memorial Day, many thousands of veterans will participate in ceremonies to unveil the new World War II Memorial on the Mall.

The new memorial is a fitting tribute to those who died in World War II. The memorial will inspire future generations of Americans and stand as an important symbol of American national unity. It will serve as a timeless reminder of our solemn obligation to preserve peace for our children and the strength of our nation when united in a common and just cause.

It is notable that it has taken six decades for America to erect the first national memorial dedicated to the memories of those lost. After they won the war, our fathers and grandfathers did not come home and build statues to themselves. Instead, they built a nation. Their legacy to us has been the greatest standard of living the world has ever known.

But as this greatest generation passes from the scene, it is an appropriate time to reflect on and appreciate all that they accomplished. It is difficult to do justice to enormity of the victory in World War II. Simply put, these brave Americans and our allies saved the world. They liberated entire countries in Africa, Europe and Asia and defeated the fascist empires of Italy, Germany and Japan.

Sixteen million Americans served in the military during World War II. Millions more played vital roles in the war effort from the homefront. More than 400,000 gave their lives in combat. To put that number in perspective, it's more people than the current population of our capital city, Raleigh. Countless more were wounded. Virtually every American family contributed in vital ways to the war effort.

The battlefields of the war bear the names of legend: Manila, Leyte Gulf, Midway, Anzio, Sicily, Coral Sea, Normandy, the Ardennes, the Bulge, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Berlin, to cite but a few. Things did not always go smoothly. Operation Overlord was hampered by the fact that countless paratroops missed their targeted drop zones due to winds aloft and deadly surface fire. Later, operations like Market Garden ended in disaster. And of course, the attack on Pearl Harbor resulted from the greatest intelligence failure in our country's history. The enemy fought ferociously and vigorously. But America persevered.

Had America and our allies failed, our nation surely would have been conquered. The noted historian William Shirer estimated that a Nazi invasion of the United States would have occurred shortly after the fall of Great Britain. Imperial Japan likely would have followed the destruction of the Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor with an invasion of our West Coast. The Axis Powers would have split control of North America with everything east of the Rocky Mountains under Nazi German occupation and the west controlled by Japan. Such a scenario seems inconceivable today, and because of the sacrifices of the World War II generation, it is.

That is what Memorial Day is all about. On Memorial Day, the people of this grateful nation stop what they are doing to pay tribute to those who died fighting for our freedom.

In Congress, I work every day to honor the sacrifices of our fighting men and women and to secure the earned benefits for our veterans. I have been working to increase military pay and to allow Reservists and National Guard members to receive health insurance through TRICARE, the military's health system. I have worked to end the Survivor Benefit Penalty, which slashes pension benefits for thousands of military spouses just when they need it most, and I am very pleased Congress passed legislation this month to phase it out. It is the least we can do for our veterans.

Each year on the final Monday of May, our nation joins together to remember our loved ones who served and sacrificed in the name of freedom. The debt owed to them is immeasurable. We must never let our efforts wane in this healing practice of paying tribute to our fallen heroes. Their sacrifices and those of our military families are freedom's foundation. With the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines and their families, this nation would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly and live so freely.

This Memorial Day, we thank our World War II veterans and all our veterans. And we will be true to the legacy of the greatest generation by reaffirming our fidelity to our nation's highest ideals. God bless America.

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