Monday is Memorial Day in the United States – a day to honor and mourn those who died in defense of our country.
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer and is often filled with fun activities – an outdoor barbecue, a trip to the pool or the beach, a get-together with friends and relatives, maybe enlivened by some wine or cocktails. We’ve had good weather here on the Shore and we’re enjoying it along with everyone else.
The first national observance of Memorial Day, then known as Decoration Day, occurred on May 30, 1868. the holiday was proclaimed by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the American Civil War.
Official recognition as a holiday spread among the states, beginning with New York in 1873. By 1890, every Union state had adopted it. The world wars turned it into a day of remembrance for all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service. In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as “Memorial Day” and changed its observance to the last Monday in May.
Enjoy the weekend with your friends and families but please take some time to remember those who have died for our country. Without their sacrifice, our country would be much different, or might not exist at all. And give a thought to the sorrow and loss of those they have left behind – their parents, wives, children, friends and comrades. Their grief is our grief too.
Thank you.
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