A Message on Memorial Day 2022 from General Joseph Votel

May 27, 2022

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The U.S. Army Honor Guard, The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Caisson Platoon, and The U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”, conduct the funeral of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Bryan Black in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 30, 2017. Black, a native of Puyallup, Washington, was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) on Fort Bragg, North Carolina when he died from wounds sustained during enemy contact in the country of Niger in West Africa, Oct. 4, 2017. Ryan McCarthy, acting secretary, U.S. Army; Gen. Mark Milley, chief of staff, U.S. Army; and Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director, Army National Military Cemeteries; were in attendance and gave condolences to the Black Family at the gravesite. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)

This weekend marks the most solemn of our National Holidays – Memorial Day. It is a day we set aside to remember our fellow citizens who answered the call of duty and paid for our freedom with the ultimate sacrifice. I am certain many of you have family members, friends or acquaintances that you think about on this holiday. I will be thinking about US Army Captain Dan Whitten. Dan was a West Point Graduate and served as my aide de camp while we were deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division.  On February 2nd, 2010, while subsequently serving as an Airborne Rifle Company Commander, Dan was killed in action attempting to rescue one of his soldiers wounded in an ambush. He was noble and honorable to the end. He left behind a young wife, an adoring family and a multitude of friends.  

As you enjoy the start of summer this weekend, I ask that you take a quiet moment to reflect on what Dan and literally tens of thousands of other Americans have done on our behalf. Their sacrifice cannot be in vain and I believe we must use their example to aspire to the values which they demonstrated so readily.  I would also ask that you keep the families of our fallen in your thoughts and prayers – they live in silence and solitude with the memory of their loved one’s sacrifice every day.

General Joseph L. Votel, USA (Ret.)
President & CEO
Business Executives for National Security

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