Memorial Day weekend is often a time of booze, barbecues, and, in the weather cooperates, beach time with friends and family. More importantly, however, it's a day in which Americans celebrate and honor the brave men and women who have lost their lives in service of the nation. It's the perfect day to show your appreciation for the military which defends and protects the country, and a good way to do so is by sharing Memorial Day quotes that remind you what this holiday is really about.

I don't come from a long line of family members who have served in the military, but I always remember stories that my grandfather told me as a child. He served in the military for almost his entire life, working on an aircraft carrier that sailed the oceans as a fully-equipped airbase. He may not have personally been at the front of the battle, but he did his duty to the country. In families across America, there are countless stories of women and men just like him.

Although your own Memorial Day celebration is probably closer to that of the aforementioned fun and sun with loved ones, here are 15 quotes that will help you honor the memory of the nation's heroes.