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.
