DES MOINES – Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) yesterday offered remarks at the Parkersburg Memorial Day program.  His remarks are as follows:

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.  While there are many communities who claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. It is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. Many graves of the fallen are increasingly neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

But this is not the case everywhere.  Since the late 50′s on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis have placed flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery since 1951. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye’s Heights.  And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.

But what can we do to bring back the solemnity and true meaning of Memorial Day?  Memorial Day is more than a reason to have a three day weekend.  Here are a few suggestions to break away from the nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.

1.    Attend A Parade. Thank you for being here to honor our fallen heroes on this important day.  And when that flag passes by, be sure to salute.  That means men and boys removing their hats and all of us saluting with our hand covering our hearts.

2.    Fly your Flag. Etiquette on Memorial Day is to fly the flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. If you have a flag pole, consider joining the tradition this year.

3.    Wear A Poppy. During the days leading up to Memorial Day, our local Legion Auxiliary members came to your door offering poppies for a donation.. The poppy’s significance to Memorial Day is the result of the John McCraepoem “In Flanders Fields.” Disabled and needy veterans in VA hospitals have been assembling Buddy Poppies since 1924. Purchase one, and your donation assists in maintaining state and national rehabilitation and service programs for veterans.

4.    Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance. In an effort to restore Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be, the National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day to pause in an act of national unity (duration: one minute).The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday.

5.    Thank A Veteran. While Memorial Day is a time for remembering and honoring our fallen soldiers, it’s also a perfect time to thank those soldiers past and present who are right here in our midst today! Thank them for all they have done to protect our country and our freedoms.

Thank you for being here today.  Next year let’s go one step further.  Bring someone with you to the parade and roll call.  Make sure we are bringing our children up understanding what Memorial Day is really all about, it’s more than just bar-b-ques and a day off of work.  It’s honoring those men and women who have served our country.  Many, many of them paying the ultimate price for our freedom.   Our individual liberties and freedoms will never be free, and we will never forget those who paid with their lives.

DES MOINES – Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) tonight offered closing remarks on the first session of the 85^th Iowa General Assembly. His remarks are as follows and will be read into the official Senate Journal:

Thank you, Madame President.

As I said on the opening day of this session, I am proud and honored to stand here today and address my fellow legislators and Iowans.

I am particularly proud of the historic property tax reform we passed in this body today.  We made good on a promise that has been repeatedly made to Iowa taxpayers.

Over the coming years, the property taxes on all Iowans will be reduced by more than a half a billion dollars.  That money remaining in the pockets of Iowa small businesses and families will help create jobs and expand opportunities for people to decide how to invest and spend their hard earned dollars.  I assure you, they will make good decisions and our great state will flourish.

We also did the right thing by spending less money than we take in.  That is the only way to be responsible to the very taxpayers who pay the bills government incurs.  We must continue on this prudent path.  It is important for Iowa businesses and families to grow, not for government to grow beyond its means.

Is there more to do?  Yes.

I hope we can more aggressively pursue a future agenda of expanding the Taxpayer Trust Fund and return even more of the overpayment of taxes to the taxpayers instead of growing government.  Every dollar comes from and belongs to Iowa taxpayers, after all.  We owe them accountability and control of their incomes.

I trust our actions this year have been guided by what we believe is best for all Iowans.  I know we can do even better and have greater success in setting Iowa on a prosperous course.

To quote Margaret Thatcher:

“What is success?  I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.”

I suggest we know we have done well, but have not done enough.  Let’s return with a certain sense of purpose next year to do even more to free all Iowans to decide for themselves what to do with their hard earned dollars. Given that freedom, they will create jobs, improve the lives of their families, and make Iowa a truly great place to grow.

Let’s make it happen.