esterly served in the spanish american war and world war i. >> we should be thankful for the men andomen who died in the service of our country. >> reporter: ordinary people doing extraordinary things, people like commandant william e. may. >> you can see i'm emotional. i'm a vietnam veteran. i served in vietnam the 3rd marine division in 1969 and some of my friends didn't come home. >> reporter: and if you're thinking you don't know anyone who fought or died for this country, commandant may would like you to know -- >> if they do their lineage, almost every american has a family member who has served and some have not come home. >> reporter: and that's why robert would like to remind you that freedom doesn't come free. >> all these protests we had recently, people can do that because people like this died for us. ♪ >> reporter: so on this memorial day, take a moment to make even the smallest gesture of gratitude to those who may or may not have known a moment like robert strickley to a man he never knew because he never made it home. >> just overall thanks, thanks to be alive, thank