Every Memorial Day weekend, (except last year), the Massachusetts Military Heroes organization plants a Garden of 37,000 Flags in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Boston Common. The flags commemorate the Massachusetts service members who have given their lives in the name of the United States. “We the people,” bear the ultimate responsibility for sending these brave men and women into harm’s way by virtue of the people we elect to represent us in these decisions. While most of these soldiers died in defense of our nation and freedom, I am saddened in my belief that all too many paid the ultimate price for neither of these objectives, a consequence of misguided political objectives. I wish to express my gratitude to all the men and women who have served in our military and will continue to vote for leaders who understand the ultimate futility of warfare in all but the most aggregious circumstances.