Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer.

Families will get together to grill hotdogs and hamburgers, and moviegoers will head out to see the latest blockbuster.

As you enjoy your day, I encourage you to take some time to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day.

It is a day to remember the servicemen and servicewomen who died in order to preserve our rights and our freedom. It is also a time to celebrate everything they fought and died to protect.

We certainly would not enjoy the blessings we do here in southwest Michigan if it were not for the selfless courage of brave Americans who put country before self and protected us at the cost of their own lives.

This Memorial Day, I encourage everyone to show their gratitude for those who gave the full measure in defense of liberty.

I will be paying tribute to fallen service personnel at Memorial Day events throughout Southwest Michigan and during the Michigan Senate’s 23rd Annual Memorial Day Service. The ceremony honors the members of our armed forces from our state who lost their lives in the past year, and I am honored to have Capt. Jon Hall as my special guest.

Jon is an Iraq War veteran and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy.

Residents can pay their respects by attending one of many local ceremonies or parades, flying the flag at home or the office at half-staff from sunrise to noon, or participating in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m.

One of the many ways we express our appreciation for our fallen soldiers is to adorn their graves with special markers. Disturbingly, some people are disturbing the final resting place of our veterans to steal these markers and sell them to collectors or scrap metal dealers. I have introduced legislation to crack down hard on these thefts so we can give our veterans the honor and rest they have rightfully earned.

Thankfully many of our heroes do come home safely and can be found right here in southwest Michigan. Thank a veteran for his or her service, and ask them about their fallen friends. Passing down their stories is a profound way to honor their memory.

Most of all, take a moment to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. Celebrate what they died protecting and remember its true cost.

Our nation remains strong today because of their dedication. It is a debt we can never repay, but one that we can sincerely honor.

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents southwest Michigan.