Many feel that Memorial Day is the kickoff to summer break, the first of many cookouts to come and of course the end of the school year for the children. But it’s not…it’s so much more than that.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. This was started back in 1862 by General John A. Logan as the last Monday of May. On the first Decoration Day General John A. Logan held a service at the Arlington National Cemetery with over 5,000 participants. On this day they honored over 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. By 1890 this became an official state holiday, but many Southern states honored their dead on separate days until World War I. Which I find pretty interesting, and somehow forgot this bit of history. Have to love Google and research.
In 1971 it became a Federal Holiday known as Memorial Day and honored all those that had fallen in the past wars, not just the Civil war. Even today it still holds the same meaning as it did back in 1862. Around the US we celebrate this day with laying flags on graves, parades to honor those that have fallen and have fought for our country.
So today I ask while you enjoy those hamburgers, hot dogs, and potato salad remember to thank a vet. It might not be today that you run across one, or tomorrow, but when you do shake their hand because of him/her we have our freedom. They are some of the lucky ones that got to come home. I have the pleasure of knowing some pretty amazing vets, and wouldn’t change it. The amount of pride that I hold in my heart for each and every one of our service members is pretty big… So, today I thank you all for the service that you have completed and for those that didn’t get to return home; I thank you for the sacrifices and send my love and prayers to your family.
Happy Memorial Day to you all, stay safe and remember what today is all about.
Love,
A.M. Willard
