What does Memorial Day mean to you?
For many, it means the official start of summer. The pools open and kids start counting the days until the end of school. Cookouts abound and most employees are grateful for a long weekend.
With the hullabaloo surrounding the beginning of summer, it’s easy to forget the real reason for Memorial Day: remembrance. And sadly, with a large number of troops bravely serving our country overseas in recent years, more and more families are remembering someone important in their lives.
Memorial Day was first observed as Decoration Day following the Civil War as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation. Decoration Day came from the northern tradition of decorating soldiers’ graves.
For many, it means the official start of summer. The pools open and kids start counting the days until the end of school. Cookouts abound and most employees are grateful for a long weekend.
With the hullabaloo surrounding the beginning of summer, it’s easy to forget the real reason for Memorial Day: remembrance. And sadly, with a large number of troops bravely serving our country overseas in recent years, more and more families are remembering someone important in their lives.
Memorial Day was first observed as Decoration Day following the Civil War as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation. Decoration Day came from the northern tradition of decorating soldiers’ graves.
John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed that the Decoration Day would be observed nationwide for all soldiers, both from the North and the South. The first national Decoration Day was May 30, 1868, a date chosen specifically because it was not the anniversary of a battle.
Almost a century and a half later, Memorial Day is still a day for honoring soldiers who died for their country. For those whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice, Memorial Day will never simply be the beginning of summer.
In my opinion, it isn’t too much to ask to take one day out of a three-day weekend to remember fallen soldiers and show support for the families who lost them.
In Alexandria, consider attending the Memorial Day Ceremony to Honor Alexandrians. Held at Mount Vernon Recreation Center from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the ceremony, which is hosted by the Friends of Capt. Rocky Versace, will honor the 67 Alexandrians who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.
Other nearby events on Memorial Day include ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery (Monday at 11 a.m.), the Navy Memorial (Saturday at 11 a.m. and Monday at 10 a.m.), the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial (Monday at 1 p.m.), the World War II Memorial (Monday at 9 a.m.), Air Force Memorial (Monday at 9 a.m.) and the National Memorial Day Parade (Monday at 2 p.m.). The parade runs along Constitution Avenue from 7th Street to 17th Street and features veterans units from all 50 states.
Whether you make a day of it or just stop by and pause to remember, take some time out of your busy weekend to honor the fallen soldiers. We owe a lot to them, and it will mean a great deal to their families.
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