A Memorial Day to Remember
The smell of charcoal burning in a barbeque pit, the aroma of ribs and hamburgers smoking on a grill, and the gathering of friends and family in our backyards with the American flag waving in the distance. For many of us Americans these are symbols of Memorial Day, but we tend to lose sight of the real importance behind this holiday. Did you know that Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day? On May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), constituted Decoration Day as a time for our nation to adorn the graves of those lost in battle with flowers. The name “Memorial Day” became more common after World War II with the name being federally adopted in 1967 by the U.S. government. Traditionally, today, people visit cemeteries and memorials in memory of those men and women.
Although the summer solstice, June 20, is the official start of the summer this year, Memorial Day tends to mark the unofficial start of summer for many Americans. It isn’t just about family gatherings, barbeques, and floating down the Brazos River. Many of us need to remember the real reason for the holiday. Memorial Day is the one day a year where we honor our fallen soldiers, the ones who made the biggest sacrifice. I’m not saying not to enjoy the weekend, but rather make sure to pause and take a moment to reflect and remember those who lost their lives fighting for our country. Memorial Day honors the memory of those who offered the supreme sacrifice while serving America. They helped to preserve freedoms that many of us take for granted, such as; the right to an education, the freedom to travel, the freedom to wear what we want, the right to vote, and even the freedom to not enlist in military service if we choose not to. We tend to get caught up in the pleasures of everyday life, that we forget that our freedom is not free.
With Covid-19 being a big barrier this year for Memorial Day events, don’t let that stop you from taking that moment of silence to remember a fallen hero – whether it be a family member, friend, or someone you knew from the community. While many of us won’t be able to attend a Memorial Day parade this year or take part in a ceremony at a local cemetery, please, still pause for a moment to remember the sacrifice they made.
From everyone here at the Olney Enterprise, we would like to say thank you to the men and women who paid the ultimate price. We would also like to extend prayers to the current service members and their families as well. We are deeply grateful and will always remember the sacrifices of our nation’s heroes.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” – John 15:13