Respecting and honoring deceased service women/men

“That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.”– Brevet Lieut. Col. Edmund B. Whitman, 1868. 

When did Memorial Day weekend become what it is today? Many of us treat it like it is the kickoff to summer fun. Which it is to a certain degree. Barbecues, picnics, boating, camping, parties, etc. 

Let us not forget that the day is much more than those fun things. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs explains what the day is:  

“Memorial Day, a federal holiday held the last Monday in May, is the nation’s foremost annual day to mourn and honor its deceased service men and women.

“Originally called Decoration Day, it was formalized by a ‘Memorial Day Order’ issued by Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan in 1868.”

According to VA.gov the day is observed in May is because that is when flowers are blooming across America. This meant flowers would be easily available for decorating soldiers’ graves. 

The modern proclamation calls on Americans “to observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace.” 

In 1971 it was officially recognized as a federal holiday. 

The federal guidelines note that flags on the holiday should be flown at half-mast only until noon. Then they should be raised to the top of the pole until sunset, as part of the time-honored tradition of paying tribute to America’s fallen soldiers. The official National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time around the country.

In 1896 Paul Lawrence Dunbar wrote “Ode for Memorial Day”. It reads “Flowers of charity, peace, and devotion / Bloom in the hearts that are empty of strife; / ... / So with the singing of pæans and chorals, / And with the flag flashing high in the sun, / Place on the graves of our heroes the laurels / Which their unfaltering valor has won!”

Whatever you are doing on Memorial Day, please consider stopping and giving a moment of silence at 3 p.m. to respect and honor our deceased service women and men.