Memorial Day – currently known for another holiday weekend, for
cookouts and for kicking off the summer season. But it holds a much more
valuable significance.
Memorial Day was once called Decoration Day- simply a day to
remember the fallen in service from the U.S. Civil War. General John Logan who
was national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic proclaimed it May 5,
1868, and officially observed it May 30, 1868 when flowers were then dispersed
upon the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington. It was a
sobering day to remember the tragedy of what our nation had been through and to
keep in mind so as to not endure such a conflict again – the dividing of a
nation. After World War One the day became more than just a day to focus on
those who died in the Civil War but a day to tribute all fallen servicemen.
In 1915 Moina Michael developed the idea of wearing red
poppies on Memorial Day in tribute to those who died serving the nation during
the various wars.
Today we as a nation have seen many more battles and wars.
Many more have found their resting places while serving as was their duty. It
is to those faithful fallen souls that we stop to reflect, appreciate and never
forget the honor due them for their service.
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