It's Memorial Day weekend! School is out and summer is finally here. But while you are enjoying your time on the water, at the BBQ, or with family and friends, please pause and give thanks to the over 1 million true heroes that made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country since the Revolutionary War.

Perhaps you know someone personally that made the ultimate sacrifice, but odds are that is not the case.

In today's all volunteer military, less than .5% of the US population is serving in the active military. With active duty forces numbering a little less than 1.5 million today, it can be easy to disregard or overlook the relatively tiny percentage of fallen soldiers, sailors, and airmen. This is why this day is so important, to never forget the cost of freedom.

Since 9/11, 6855 US service members have died in or as a result of their service in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, according to Military Times.

602 of those were from Texas.

22 were from Austin.

21 from my alma mater, Texas A&M.

All who have served have made sacrifices, but it is the few who sacrificed all that make our way of life possible. Please join me in honoring those heroes that have given all in service to our great country. Fly your flag, visit a memorial, or just take a minute from your busy day to pause in an act of national unity for a duration of one minute at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30 during the National Moment of Remembrance. Have a safe Memorial Day!