Patriotism. It’s one of many feelings I get when I see an American flag. More than just stitches and dye on a piece of fabric, the American flag stands for liberty, freedom and pride.

It represents the history of our nation and soars as a symbol of our strength and unity. Along with patriotism and pride, the flag elicits an immense gratitude for our heroic men and women in uniform who display unparalleled dedication to our freedom. It’s a reminder that freedom comes with a cost, and our veterans, our soldiers and their families are paying it.

One of the most heartbreaking places to see the American flag is draped over the casket of a member of the United States Armed Forces. There, the red, white and blue serve as an honor and a tribute to thank our veterans and those who perished while serving.

Although we are thankful each and every day for these patriots, we set aside Memorial Day to come together with family, friends and neighbors to remember their service. It’s an opportunity to reflect and offer our deepest support and gratitude to the families of those we’ve lost.

While we remember the fallen this Memorial Day, let’s recommit ourselves to caring for our active-duty troops, veterans and their families. As George Washington said, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”

That’s one reason why I am continuing to fight to fix the issues at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Make no mistake, there are many good and dedicated people at VA medical facilities in North Carolina who work hard to provide veterans the service they deserve. The problem is the bureaucracy has gotten so massive and out of control that resources are wasted and the quality of care delivered to veterans has decreased.

Last week, the House passed a handful of bills to increase accountability at the VA and support our veterans. One bill, the Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act, will bring to light discrepancies and guarantee poor performance by employees at the agency are not swept under the rug. My colleagues and I will continue our efforts to reshape the culture at the VA, but it’s high time this administration takes responsibility and cleans up the mess.

As always, my office stands ready to assist every veteran in our district with problems they are having with the VA. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please contact my office in Concord at 704-786-1612 or my office in Rockingham at 910-997-2070.

While we will never be able to repay our fellow Americans who laid down their lives for our freedom, we can say thank you. So this Memorial Day, before you head back to the busy work week, please join me in thanking those who serve and our patriots who fought the good fight and made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country.

I ask you to thank a veteran and a military family, and I challenge you to do all that you can to serve our country and to be worthy of the sacrifice of so many of these heroes.

To the members of the United States Armed Forces, past and present, thank you for your service. May God bless our troops and may God bless the United States of America.

Rep. Richard Hudson, R-Concord, represents North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, which includes all of Richmond County.