And on Memorial Day, our country joins together to honor our service members who made that ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country and its highest ideals.

Generations of Black people have given their lives while wearing one of America's uniforms, many in hopes that their service would cause others to see their humanity and that their commitment would lead to real freedom and equality for them and their loved ones.

Their hope has not yet been fully realized, and it's on those of us who want a more just and equal nation to keep pushing until it is.

Today, as we remember the heroes we've lost, let us all be inspired by their extraordinary courage, and pledge to do what we can in our time to ensure that America lives up to the values they fought to defend.

Fighting forward,

Derrick Johnson
@DerrickNAACP
National president and CEO,
NAACP