Overview of The True Meaning of Memorial Day | Nick Freitas & Ben Shapiro
This episode centers on the meaning of Memorial Day and how Americans should properly honor those who died in military service. Ben Shapiro interviews Nick Freitas, a retired Green Beret, Virginia legislator, and combat veteran, about remembrance, sacrifice, the media’s portrayal of veterans, and the realities of war. Freitas argues that Memorial Day should be treated as a sacred day of reflection, not just a long weekend.
What Memorial Day Means
Memorial Day is for the fallen
Freitas makes a sharp distinction between Memorial Day and Veterans Day:
- Memorial Day honors those who died in service
- Veterans Day honors those who served
He says the best way civilians can observe the day is by remembering a specific person who died in uniform:
- Speak their name
- Learn their story
- Share it with others
- Treat remembrance as an act of gratitude and responsibility
The purpose of remembrance
Freitas emphasizes that memorializing the dead is not just sentimental — it reminds Americans that their freedom was purchased at a real cost. Remembering the fallen also reinforces an obligation to live in a way worthy of that sacrifice.
Freitas on Veterans, Heroism, and Purpose
Don’t reduce veterans to victims
Freitas criticizes what he sees as a modern tendency to portray service members as helpless victims rather than capable citizens who chose to serve. He argues this framing:
- strips veterans of honor
- encourages dependency
- treats military service as a form of injury rather than sacrifice
Reserve the word “hero”
He also pushes back on the casual use of the word hero. His view:
- Not every veteran is a hero
- Veterans deserve respect simply for service
- “Hero” should be reserved for exceptional acts of courage
Veterans need mission, not just therapy
Freitas says many veterans struggle after service because they lose a sense of purpose. In his view, the answer is not merely medication or handouts, but:
- faith
- family
- community
- a new mission
He stresses that identity should be rooted in God, and that veterans do best when they can apply their skills to a meaningful next chapter.
Critique of Media and Political Narratives
Using military service to attack America
Freitas argues that some former service members use their military background to denigrate the United States or apologize for the country in ways he sees as a betrayal of their oath. He distinguishes between:
- legitimate criticism of foreign policy
- using military service as a platform to attack the nation or dishonor others
Media distortion
He says the left-wing media tends to celebrate veterans only when they support anti-American narratives, and ignores the many honorable service members who do not.
Misusing the veteran experience
Freitas also warns that military service does not permanently “fix” a person’s character. Service does not exempt someone from future moral responsibility.
The Reality of Combat
War is not like the movies
Freitas explains that public expectations about war are often unrealistic. People imagine military operations as:
- flawless
- clean
- omnipotent
- free of chaos
He says real combat is messy, human, and dangerous even for highly trained operators.
Training does not eliminate risk
Even with elite training, intelligence, and tactical preparation, a single unexpected action can change everything in an instant. His point is that war remains unpredictable and inherently hazardous.
Collateral damage and impossible standards
Freitas strongly criticizes media and academic narratives that judge U.S. troops by standards no one could meet in real time, especially when enemies:
- hide among civilians
- use children in combat
- ignore the Geneva Conventions
- deliberately create civilian casualties for propaganda value
He argues that Western media often ends up rewarding those tactics by blaming American or allied forces for tragic outcomes that were engineered by terrorists.
Personal Reflections from Freitas
Remembering a fallen teammate
Freitas shares a personal Memorial Day remembrance of a teammate from First Special Forces Group, Dejan Park, who was killed in Afghanistan. He describes the emotional weight of losing someone you served with and the responsibility to make sure that fallen comrades’ families live in a country worthy of their sacrifice.
What service really asks
He explains that military service is built around mission success, and sometimes that means accepting risk and loss. The goal is not simply to bring everyone home at all costs; the goal is to protect the country and preserve freedom.
Key Takeaways
- Memorial Day is for honoring the dead, not all veterans.
- The best observance is personal remembrance: learn and tell a fallen service member’s story.
- Veterans are not victims; they are citizens who volunteered for duty and sacrifice.
- “Hero” should be used carefully and meaningfully.
- Many veterans need renewed purpose, faith, and responsibility after service.
- Combat is chaotic and dangerous, and civilian critics often misunderstand the realities of war.
- Media narratives frequently distort military actions, especially when terrorists exploit civilians.
Bottom Line
Freitas’ central message is that Memorial Day should be approached with humility and gratitude. The day is about the men and women who paid the ultimate price, and about recognizing that American freedom depends on real sacrifice — not abstractions, slogans, or patriotic convenience.