Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) —  Even if citizens do not agree with every political move the country makes, we  honor those who died for our right to dissent about it in public. Those who gave us the power to right a wrong. Those who fought for our freedom and that of our family.

At its heart, Memorial Day is one of the most solemn observances in American life, asking all citizens to pause and remember the true cost of liberty. Across generations, Alabamians have answered the call to serve, standing in defense of ideals greater than themselves in conflicts ranging from the fields of Gettysburg to the mountains of Afghanistan.

The core message of the holiday is one of unending gratitude. The best way to honor the fallen, as many believe, is to strive to be worthy of their sacrifice by strengthening communities, serving one another, and protecting the principles that the country is worth defending.

Many Alabamians are among the approximately 1.2 million who have fallen for our country since the Civil War:

• American Civil War (1861–1865): ~620,000 to 650,000
• World War II (1941–1945): 405,399
• World War I (1917–1918): 116,516
• Vietnam War (1964–1973): 58,220
• Korean War (1950–1953): 36,574
• Spanish-American War (1898): 2,446
• War on Terror (2001–Present): Over 7,000 (Includes 4,431 in Iraq, 2,347 in Afghanistan, and deaths in related operations)
• Persian Gulf War (1990–1991): 383

• These totals include both those killed in action and those who died from disease, accidents, and non-hostile incidents during their deployment.

In Alabama, the day is marked by ceremonies and tributes across the state, ensuring that the fallen are remembered with reverence.

The City of Orange Beach is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Veterans Memorial at the City Hall Campus. The event will take place on Monday, May 25, at 9 a.m..