This particular "holiday" has evolved into more of a celebration like that of July 4th's Independence Day. Why is that? Is it because the majority of businesses and offices are closed, and we have the privilege of enjoying a longer weekend where families get together for backyard barbecues and drinks?
According to Dictionary.com and Wikipedia, the definition of Memorial Day is:
A day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, traditionally observed on May 30 but now officially observed on the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day or Decoration Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces... It marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day – Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, whereas Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.[4] It is also not to be confused with Armed Forces Day, a minor U.S. remembrance celebrated earlier in May, which specifically honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.
Each family is touched by the lives of those who have served our country whether directly or indirectly, and each has lost a loved one (or more) to the cause of our country and its hard-earned freedom.
May we never forget those who have laid down their lives, just as Christ gave His life for ours, because they had something worth fighting for.
Do you honor a loved one today?
Though I never knew him, my grandfather's brother, Uncle Joe, died serving his country and saving a friend. He was promoted to First Lieutenant, though he never had the chance to know it.
It's men like him and so many others who have made our country great.
And it's in their honor that we remember them today.
Decoration Day
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest
On this Field of the Grounded Arms,
Where foes no more molest,
Nor sentry's shot alarms!
Ye have slept on the ground before,
And started to your feet
At the cannon's sudden roar,
Or the drum's redoubling beat.
But in this camp of Death
No sound your slumber breaks;
Here is no fevered breath,
No wound that bleeds and aches.
All is repose and peace,
Untrampled lies the sod;
The shouts of battle cease,
It is the Truce of God!
Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep
Your rest from danger free.
Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.
How beautiful, Sarah! May they always be remembered!
ReplyDeleteCatherine
Oh, by the way, I finished the Spring Cleaning Tag. It's here:
ReplyDeletehttps://catherinesrebellingmuse.blogspot.com/2018/05/spring-cleaning-tag-life-update.html
Happy Memorial day. May those who serve never be forgotten. <3
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