Remembering the Fallen
Falling on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is a day to honor men & women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Formally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day has been a way to honor heroes of past and present since the late 1860’s. The year 1865 marked the end to the notoriously brutal American Civil War which resulted in the establishment of national cemeteries. Years later Americans across the nation began holding tributes and decorating the graves of the fallen during the late Spring to pay respect and remember those whose lives we\’ve lost.
“On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed.\”
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history
Memorial Day became an official Federal Holiday in 1971 and has since been recognized across towns and cities with parades, memorial services, and decorating the graves of the fallen
2021 will be no different as we see the light at the end of the Covid tunnel there is hope for parades and time to be with friends and family over the three-day weekend.
Unofficially, known as the “start of summer” it is important we remember the true reason for this weekend. With that said, Missouri Health and Wellness invites you to join us at the 3pm hour for The National Moment of Remembrance as we take a moment of silence to remember those who have died in service to the United States this Memorial Day, Monday, May 31st.
Written by Hayley Escobar-Petersen
References:
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history
