Ronald Reagan was a great American president and one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. He served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981-1989, and before that, he was Governor of California for two terms and passed away in 2004 at the age of 93. He had many memorable speeches about patriotism to get you ready for this important holiday!
Ronald Reagan’s Memorial Day speeches are still feeling its effects. These speeches were viral, and they captured America’s optimism about the future. QuotesGeeks noted 18 Ronald Reagan memorial day quotes that will inspire readers in honor of Reagan’s legacy. If you want to know more about him or are interested in reading his quotes, keep reading!
Ronald Reagan’s Memorial Day speeches were examples of his ability to inspire Americans with patriotic words. If you want to get a glimpse of what made Ronald Reagan such an effective leader, take a look at some of these words from his speeches related to Memorial Day. We hope you enjoy these quotes from him below and have a happy memorial day!
Ronald Reagan famous speeches:
Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States. He is best known for his role in ending the Cold War and transforming America’s economy, bringing about a substantial change to American life as we know it today. Here QuotesGeeks listed some of Ronald Reagan’s most famous speeches list that helped him become one of America’s most iconic Presidents.
These are some of his most famous speeches :
- “Tear down this wall”
Date: June 12, 1987
Location: West Berlin
- “A time for choosing”
Date: October 27, 1964
Location: Los Angeles, CA
- “There you go again”
Date: October 28, 1980
Location: Cleveland, OH
- “Government is not a solution to our problem”
Date: January 20, 1981
Location: Washington, D.C.
- “Space Shuttle Challenger disaster”
Date: January 28, 1986
Location: Washington, D.C.
Top 18 Ronald Reagan Memorial Day Quotes:
01.
“Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong.”
― Ronald Reagan
02.
“If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen.”
― Ronald Reagan
03.
“In our observances this Memorial Day, we honor the brave Americans who paid the highest price for their commitment to the ideals of peace, freedom, and justice.“
― Ronald Reagan
04.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream.”
― Ronald Reagan
05.
“It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
― Ronald Reagan, Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, March 30, 1961
06.
“As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation.”
― Ronald Reagan
07.
“And let us also pledge to do our utmost to carry out what must have been their wish: that no other generation of young men will ever have to share their experiences and repeat their sacrifice.”
― Ronald Reagan
08.
“The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden.”
― Ronald Reagan, Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982
09.
“And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we – in a less final, less heroic way – be willing to give of ourselves.”
― Ronald Reagan, Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982
10.
“Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them.“
— Ronald Reagan
11.
“Our goal is peace. We can gain that peace by strengthening our alliances, by speaking candidly about the dangers before us, by assuring potential adversaries of our seriousness, by actively pursuing every chance of honest and fruitful negotiation.“
— Ronald Reagan, Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982
12.
“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness.”
― Ronald Reagan, October 27, 1964
13.
“If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.”
― Ronald Reagan, October 27, 1964
14.
“I can’t claim to know the words of all the national anthems in the world, but I don’t know of any other that ends with a question and a challenge as ours does: Does that flag still wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? That is what we must all ask.”
― Ronald Reagan, Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982
15.
“I don’t have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world.”
― Ronald Reagan, May 26, 1983
16.
“Today, the United States stands as a beacon of liberty and democratic strength before the community of nations. We are resolved to stand firm against those who would destroy the freedoms we cherish.”
― Ronald Reagan, May 25, 1981
17.
“We are determined to achieve an enduring peace – a peace with liberty and with honor. This determination, this resolve, is the highest tribute we can pay to the many who have fallen in the service of our Nation.”
― Ronald Reagan, May 25, 1981
18.
“We owe this freedom of choice and action to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation and its interests in time of need. In particular, we are forever indebted to those who have given their lives that we might be free.”
― Ronald Reagan, May 26, 1983
FAQs Related To Ronald Reagan Memorial Day Quotes
What was called Ronald Reagan's speech during 1964 U.S. presidential election campaign?
“A Time for Choosing”
When Ronald Reagan delivered his famous speech "A Time for Choosing"?
October 27, 1964
Who wrote Ronald Reagan's inaugural address?
an American political consultant named Kenneth L. Khachigian (1944) wrote Ronald Reagan’s inaugural address.
Who wrote Ronald Reagan's Challenger speech?
Peggy Noonan
When was Reagan's speech about the Challenger?
Jan. 31, 1986
Ronald Reagan was an effective leader because he always knew how to inspire Americans with patriotic words. Memorial Day is the perfect occasion to reflect on some of these quotes from him and remember his legacy as a president who made America great again. We hope you enjoy reading through these excerpts. What are some of your favorite quotes from President Reagan? Let us know in the comments!