Remembering and Honoring the Sacrifice: Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a solemn and significant day in the United States, observed annually on the last Monday of May. It is a day dedicated to remembering and honoring the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the U.S. military. Beyond the barbecues and the start of summer, Memorial Day provides us with an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the profound sacrifices made by those who fought to safeguard our freedom and to pay tribute to their extraordinary valor. The Origins of Memorial Day: Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day emerged after the American Civil War as a way to commemorate the fallen soldiers. The first official observance took place in 1868 when General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, designated May 30th as a day for decorating the graves of the war dead with flowers. In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday, and its date was moved to the last Monday in May to create a three-day w