Memorial Day is more than just a three-day weekend, backyard barbecues, or the first trip to the beach of the season. It is a sacred day of remembrance—a time to bow our heads in gratitude for the brave souls who gave their lives in defense of our nation.

This Memorial Day, as we gather with family and friends, we pause to remember the true meaning of this solemn day, not just as the start of summer, but as a sacred moment to honor those who gave their last full measure of devotion for our nation.

Among our Sayville Alumni Association family, we are deeply proud of the brave men and women who answered the call to serve. Some returned home. Others never came back. Today, we pay special tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their names may be etched on memorials, but their courage is forever etched in our hearts.

Freedom is not free. It was bought with the lives of patriots—some of whom once walked the same halls of Sayville High School, sat in the same classrooms, and cheered under the Friday night lights that unite us all. Their legacy lives on in the values we uphold as Sayville alumni: duty, honor, and service to something greater than oneself.

This Memorial Day, let us:

Remember their names and their stories

Reflect on the cost of our freedoms

Recommit to supporting our veteran alumni and military families

Honor their sacrifice by living with purpose

“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.” — Minot J. Savage

To all who served—and especially to those we’ve lost—we say: Your Sayville Alumni Association family remembers. We are forever proud, forever grateful.