OPINION: The Blue and Yellow of this Memorial Day

This Monday, cemeteries across North Jersey will be filled with U.S. flags and families honoring and mourning our military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces.

Their deaths, especially for those killed in action, were for protecting freedoms that we take for granted today—free speech, religion and many others that make our version of democracy.

It is a fight for those freedoms that we have seen for the last 15 months in Ukraine. And on this Memorial Day, we should make sure our commitments remains strong to help Ukraine here and across the world in their battle against the illegal Russian invasion.

It is estimated that at least 17,500 Ukrainians have died since last February on the battlefield. And they have died for the same reasons we will solemnly celebrate Memorial Day this weekend: democracy and freedom. 

There is a growing movement by extremes of each party to reduce our support both financially and militarily to Ukraine. This can not stand and President Joe Biden is right to make sure the world understands that our nation’s support is unwavering.

America has stood with Ukraine and their people because they share the same democratic values as us. Those who seek to undercut our standing in the world, with Russia and China leading this push, are watching to see our resolve, seeing it as a test case of how far they can go before we respond. 

We as citizens can do more as well. In the early days of the conflict, North Jersey residents and those around the world opened their wallets and doors to help Ukraine citizens. That charitable aid must continue and please consider doing so again.

As we remember those who fought and lost their lives across the world fighting for American values, we must continue to support Ukraine and our allies who continue to fight for democracy.