Remembering Memorial Day

Memorial Day celebrations, once solemn national occasions, have lapsed into nothing more than an excuse for family gatherings and  vacation excursions.  While there's nothing wrong with that, it  is sad that most Americans have no inkling of the sober history that surrounds this federal holiday.

In the aftermath of the bloody Civil War, a couple of army generals decided it would be appropriate to honor those soldiers who had sacrificed their lives to save the union as well as their Confederate combatants.  They also saw it as a way to heal a nation that had been torn asunder by the war.

The generals, John A. Logan and John Murray, issued a proclamation on May 5, 1865, declaring a "Decoration Day" of remembrance and reconciliation.  The reason for the name was that it had become a common practice for families to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers.

Many of the northern states adopted official holidays in recognition of the proclamation.  Gradually, somber ceremonies marking the day were held at all national cemeteries, including Gettysburg National and Arlington National. 

It wasn't until after World War II that the name was officially changed to Memorial Day, which had come into common usage in many parts of the country.  In 1967, Congress passed a law declaring Memorial Day to be an official federal holiday.

Now that you know the history, it's more important to recall the reason we mark this day.  A total of 1,343,812 American soldiers have been killed in all the major wars fought in this country and overseas since the Revolutionary War.  The bloodiest was World War I, which claimed the lives of 364,800 military men and women wearing the U.S. uniform.

These brave men and women gave up their lives to protect our freedom and those of our allies.  Whether or not you agree with the reasons for every war, you can at least honor those who willingly put their lives in jeopardy as part of their duty as soldiers representing our nation.

Count me as one of those patriotic Americans who is grateful for the sacrifices of our military as well as those, who must deal with the cruel loss of love ones taken too soon from their grasp.  Take a moment this Memorial Day to remember the sacred soldiers and their grieving families. 

Let's return Memorial Day to the reverent position it once occupied in America.