56 Memorial Day quotes echoing honor and recognition.

Memorial Day quotes for loved ones, businesses, and even the backyard barbeque.

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The best Memorial Day quotes to share proudly.

Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May in the United States. For millions, Memorial Day means a long weekend, a bank holiday, and barbeques. It’s the opening parentheses of the summer, giving the green light to wearing white and kickstarting the summer wedding season.

For millions more, Memorial Day is a solemn event. It’s observed, not celebrated. Memorial Day commemorates all the soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty, and families spend the weekend visiting graves and remembering.

The real meaning of Memorial Day is encapsulated in quotes by great leaders, writers, and songs of remembrance.

Whether you plan to kick back on Memorial Day, show remembrance with family, support the local parade, or a combination of all the above, there are dignified and cthoughtful Memorial Day quotes to go with it. Choose your favorites and let Adobe Express help you use them in cards, letters, posters, banners, collages, flyers, and more this year.

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Table of Contents:

Thank You Memorial Day Quotes

Happy Memorial Day Quotes for Cards and Greetings

Inspirational Memorial Day Quotes

Famous Memorial Day Quotes

Memorial Day Quotes for Loved Ones With Losses Near and Dear

Memorial Day Quotes for Business to Send the Right Message

Short Memorial Day Quotes

Thank you Memorial Day quotes to show graceful gratitude.

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. For families and friends of fallen service members, remembering can be sorrowful, cathartic, prideful, abetting, and everything in between.

If you aren’t sure how to say “thank you” for the ultimate sacrifice these loved ones made, look to history’s greats for quotes that beautifully capture this deep level of gratitude.

Choose the thoughtful Memorial Day quotes that resonate with you. The right quote can infuse your feeling of thanks into any card or letter, or help others connect in bold posters, banners, and more.

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For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”

President James A. Garfield

James A. Garfield, Civil War general and 20th president of the United States, made this statement about Memorial Day less than 15 years after it was established.

The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.”
Jeff Miller
Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”

Unattributed

This is a metaphor that evokes the colors and movement of the flag, the sound of it flapping, and the feel of the crisp air. How would this look on a poster?

It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
Norman Schwarzkopf
And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.”
Joseph Rodman Drake
I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it.”
John Thune
Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.”

President Barack Obama

There are many memorable presidential quotes about Memorial Day because of the traditional public announcements made in honor of the holiday.

They fell, but o'er that glorious grave, floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.”
Francis Marion Crawford
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Happy Memorial Day quotes for cards and greetings.

We’re accustomed to using the word “happy” before any holiday greeting, but Memorial Day is a holiday that’s observed, not celebrated. This is tricky for well-wishers who want to send cards, say something nice at work, or simply enjoy their cookout.

Instead of saying “happy Memorial Day,” show well wishes using one of these timeless quotes. Below is a special collection of Memorial Day quotes that look inward for introspection and look onward to the future, both of which are easier to say and hear than reiterating the sorrow for loss.

Choose your favorite quotes and share them confidently in cards, social media graphics, and on flyers. These quotes refocus away from “happy” holiday greetings back to the heart of the holiday itself.

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Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”

Billy Graham

If courage is contagious, what else do you think is contagious on Memorial Day? Perhaps gratitude generates more gratitude. How could you put that into a Memorial Day card?

Heroism doesn't always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.”
Mary Roach
Ceremonies are important. But our gratitude has to be more than visits to the troops and once a year Memorial Day Ceremonies. We honor the dead best by treating the living well.”
Jennifer M. Granholm
And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”

Lee Greenwood

Memorial Day quotes can also recognize what we have today as a result of the sacrifices of those lost.

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right in America.”
President William J. Clinton
Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.”
Elie Wiesel
How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes.”

Maya Angelou

A short Memorial Day quote like this one is perfect to replace “happy Memorial Day” in cards.

And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice.”

President Ronald Reagan

This is a little long to replace “happy Memorial Day,” but it’s a powerful quote that puts the holiday into relatable perspective.

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Inspirational Memorial Day quotes to share and think about.

When the right words come together in the perfect message, we feel inspired. Memorial Day motivational quotes help us see what we can be thanks to the sacrifice of soldiers who stood up for their nation.

Inspirational Memorial Day quotes look at the heroes before us and the possible heroes within us. Imagine all the ways you could use these quotes to leave others feeling prideful, reassured, and determined this year on Memorial Day.

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This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

Elmer Davis

Put into very few words, this quote reminds us what we enjoy as a result of the sacrifice of those before us. Short inspirational Memorial Day quotes are ideal for flyers and posters.

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
Joseph Campbell
Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

We enjoy many freedoms, including (in the post-conscription era) the freedom to choose whether to serve. Some see that very freedom as the reason to enlist.

The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.”
Minot J. Savage
The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Open a letter to someone with this quote and see where it leads you. What have you inherited from the example of a serviceperson you knew and lost?

A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
Bob Dylan
Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.”

President Theodore Roosevelt

This Teddy Roosevelt quote can conjure a deep feeling of honor and pride for someone who’s lost a loved one in service.

The bravest thing you can do when you are not brave is to profess courage and act accordingly.”
Corra Harris
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Famous Memorial Day quotes for those who will never be forgotten.

Once you dive into famous Memorial Day quotes, you’re looking for quotes by leaders and thinkers as memorialized as the fallen soldiers we honor. You want the best Memorial Day quotes that, as soon as they were uttered, seared into minds and hearts forever. Memorial Day and its predecessor, “Decoration Day,” have inspired nearly 200 years of poetry and song, too (another source of famous Memorial Day quotes).

Choose your favorite famous Memorial Day quotes as a salute to the soldiers they honor and the people who said them. Some of these you’ve heard already. Imagine what you can do with these resounding quotes on cards, posters, banners, and more this Memorial Day. It’s all fast and easy in Adobe Express—no experience required.

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I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Nathan Hale

As the story goes, these were the last words of this patriot, soldier, and spy from the Revolutionary War.

When you go home, tell them of us, and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.”
Kohima Epitaph
Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.”

Charles de Gaulle

Part of responsibly honoring those we’ve lost is to be truly patriotic: putting love for one another first.

Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.”
President Calvin Coolidge
Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave.”

Muhammad

If the valor of the brave is a nod to those we lost, that leaves the learning, justice, and prayers to those of us left to remember them.

Over all our happy country, over all our Nation spread, is a band of noble heroes—is our Army of the Dead.”
Will Carleton, Farm Ballads
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The “silence of our friends” could be the price paid for the lives we live today. For that, we always show gratitude.

We must be prepared to make heroic sacrifices for the cause of peace that we make ungrudgingly for the cause of war. There is no task that is more important or closer to my heart.”
Albert Einstein
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Memorial Day quotes for loved ones with losses near and dear.

There are millions of Americans who feel Memorial Day in a deep and sorrowful way each year. These are the friends and family of fallen soldiers.

When you send Memorial Day sentiments to people who lost someone dear, take every opportunity to practice tact. Choose Memorial Day quotes for loved ones that reflect the respect you want to show. Also consider how you deliver those quotes—usually, private and intimate cards and letters are best.

Choose the Memorial Day quotes for loved ones that touch your heart. If the loss was someone dear to you, too, these quotes are like a balm to the soul.

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America without her soldiers would be like God without His angels.”

Claudia Pemberton

There are few visuals that comfort someone spiritual more than the thought of a loved one at peace among the angels.

So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.”

Helen Keller

The homage we pay to those we loved and lost is to remember them, especially on Memorial Day, and always.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare to die, and leave their children free, bid Time and Nature gently spare the shaft we raise to them and thee.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn't free.”
Sgt. Major Bill Paxton
Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.”

Daniel Webster

Around 850,000 soldiers have died in combat in the history of the United States. Few of them have statues, but all of them deserve the same remembrance.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

President John F. Kennedy

This famous quote about gratitude by President John F. Kennedy applies to honoring fallen soldiers in an important way. How can you express your gratitude, then live by it?

This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.”
Tamra Bolton
Your silent tents of green we deck with fragrant flowers; Yours has the suffering been, the memory shall be ours.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Memorial Day quotes for business to send the right message.

Memorial Day continues to mark an anticipated long weekend of sunshine, cookouts, and retail sales. No one person or business can be blamed for the national shift in focus to consumerism, but individual businesses can set themselves apart by sending the right message on Memorial Day.

Whether your business will be closed in observance of the holiday or customers will flood through the doors for a Memorial Day sale, choose the best Memorial Day quotes for business to make your values clear. You can honor the occasion and the service people it remembers while acknowledging your place in a collective act of “thanks.”

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Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”
Adlai Stevenson
Memorial Day remains one of America's most cherished patriotic observances. The spirit of this day has not changed—it remains a day to honor those who died defending our freedom and democracy.”

Doc Hastings

If your business is having a sale on Memorial Day weekend, are you donating any proceeds to a veteran-focused organization? Could you? Imagine using this quote on flyers or posters to emphasize your brand’s priorities.

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.”

St. Ambrose

If your business will be closed in observance of Memorial Day, this quote on a flyer states clearly why.

Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong.”
James Bryce
We take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”
Cynthia Ozick
My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

President John F. Kennedy

This is one of the most famous John F. Kennedy quotes, and it’s a timeless option to put on posters leading up to Memorial Day.

No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”

General Douglas MacArthur

What does your business—or any individual that works there—do to be “vigilant in [freedom’s] preservation?”

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Short Memorial Day quotes you can use absolutely anywhere.

Scrolling through the Memorial Day quotes above, you see topics like inspirational Memorial Day quotes, Memorial Day messages for loved ones, famous Memorial Day quotes, and more.

What do you do, though, when you need a short Memorial Day quote? How can you bundle the appropriate remembrance and sentiment into 67 characters or less?

To do this, history’s greats have helped us again. From Aristotle to General George S. Patton, these short Memorial Day quotes talk about sacrifice, honor, and bravery. They each get right to the point so you can use them in any flyer, social media graphic, banner, or other project.

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I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism.”
Bob Riley
What I can do for my country, I am willing to do.”

Christopher Gadsden

There is no better assertion of patriotism than this.

In valor, there is hope.”

Publius Cornelius Tacitus

Courage always requires some degree of hope.

There is nothing nobler than risking your life for your country.”
Nick Lampson
You will never do anything in this world without courage.”
Aristotle
It's better to fight for something in life than to die for nothing.”

General George S. Patton

This is a stoic quote you can use in a card of condolences.

On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation.”

Thomas William Parsons

Thomas William Parsons was a 19th-century poet, and he conjured a beautiful metaphor here to express how worth it the ultimate sacrifice can be.

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.”
Thomas Campbell
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Tips when sharing Memorial Day quotes and content.

At its core, Memorial Day is still the national occasion to remember fallen soldiers. It can be a daunting task to honor them, because, as President Barack Obama said, “Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.”

We can try, though. Whether a barbeque is part of your weekend plans or not, you can use the day to commemorate fallen soldiers by:

Exercise: In lieu of “happy Memorial Day.”

When you recognize Memorial Day, try to strike “happy Memorial Day” from your Memorial Day card messages and greetings.

For family members and friends of the people who gave their lives, this holiday isn’t exactly “happy.”

You can fill in the blank on the statement below, though, with other words to describe Memorial Day this year:

I hope your Memorial Day is _______.

To start you off, think of words like:

Adobe Express can help.

Adobe Express has templates and customization tools to put your favorite Memorial Day quotes to work. If you want to use Memorial Day quotes in cards, letters, posters, banners, collages, flyers, or other creative projects, Adobe Express makes it as simple as picking a template and personalizing it, or making your own idea with easy-to-use tools. Whatever message you want to transmit, Adobe Express brings it to life, no experience required.

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