While Memorial Day serves as the unofficial start to summer, there’s a deeper meaning behind the barbecues and boat excursions; Memorial Day is about honoring soldiers who lost their lives fighting for their country.
After the Civil War, communities began holding gatherings to honor their war dead, decorating their graves.
Many localities from the North and South already celebrated the holiday in their own ways; in 1868, Grand Army of the Republic Gen. John A. Logan called for “Decoration Day” to be held every year nationally, expanding the memorial to all of the United States.
After World War 1, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of The United States’ wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.
Today, the holiday is marked by parades, ceremonies, and moments of silence. Flags are placed on graves at cemeteries nationwide, including Arlington National Cemetery, where each grave is adorned with an American flag.
While many enjoy the long weekend, Memorial Day remains a time of reflection — a day to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by so many in defense of the United States.
