Ladies, Gentlemen, My fellow Airmen. My brothers and sisters in arms.

Tonight, we raise a glass. We raise a glass not *to* Chris, but *for* him.  For all the men and women who aren't here to raise their own. We raise a glass for them, so they may be here in spirit and memory.

We are bombarded with reminders of what is required of us, what is expected of us. In that moment when we think only of what we must give of our selves, I ask you to stop. Think instead of what has been given to you. Think of what these men and women gave you.

The patriot will say they gave you inalienable rights, but those rights were always yours. They only protected them. 

The politician will say they gave you their lives. To defend some cause, or some ideal. They gave that on the day they raised their hand and swore to defend our nation against all enemies who should threaten her. They lived that life to the end. There was none left to give.

The minister will say they gave their mortal body. But we have commended this to the dust. 

The philosopher perhaps, will lament on their immortal soul, but it is still theirs to keep.

These men and women gave you something far more important. More personal. More perishable. They gave you memories. Their last tangible influence on the world. To keep, and cherish, and pass on. To recount to their children and grand children. To their friends and neighbors. To the generations to come. 

We can give so simple and grand a tribute. Remember them.

Not how they died, or what some would have you think they died for. Remember how they lived. Remember what they loved. What they lived for.

They also gave us courage. Courage they had in ample supply. Courage to continue the life they were part of. Courage to wake up in the morning and live, and love, and remember. Courage to pass along the lessons they would have the world learn.

No mortal man can leave a greater legacy than this. Memories of life, and love, and the courage to remember. We should all aspire to so full a life, and so selfless a gift to the ages.

Remember our fellow Airmen! Remember our friends tonight, and always!