But is it? Should we look at it as just another occasion for cookouts, the opening of swimming pools, the beginning of summer vacations, and goofing off?
I remember my Parents and Grandparents putting flowers and flags on graves (of military and family) and referring to this special day as “Decoration Day”, its original name. The name was changed to Memorial Day after World War I, but they still referred to it as Decoration Day.
So, what exactly IS Decoration Day / Memorial day and why do we observe it?
The opening paragraph in Wikipedia says:
“Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.”
An email today from a DIT reader included this link to a moving 2 minute 47 second video tribute about this holiday. It is awesome. HERE'S THE LINK
To learn more about this very significant Holiday and there is much more to know CLICK HERE.
and
To hear a short media file of taps CLICK HERE.
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