Memorial Day Tribute – From Nekohl Johnson and Her Circle of Service

Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Their courage, their dedication, and their love for something greater than themselves will never be forgotten.

As a wartime veteran and a woman who has walked both the battlefield and the path of healing, I know that freedom is not free. I carry the memory of those we lost not only in my heart but in every space I serve.

From Be Whole with Nekohl to Female Veteran Leaders in Illinois, from Where We Meet, Inc. to 3 Vets is a Charm, from Southside Strong Coalition for Suicide Prevention to our expanding Veterans Coffee Chats, and now as the VFW District 16 Women’s Representative and the incoming State VFW Women’s Rep—I stand in honor, in gratitude, and in service to the legacy of our fallen heroes.

We remember them by how we live, how we lead, and how we love one another.

To my fellow veterans, to the families who grieve, to the communities that support us—may today bring peace, remembrance, and the promise that their sacrifice was not in vain.

In remembrance. In unity. In hope. Salute.

– Nekohl Johnson