As you celebrate Memorial Day, take a moment to reflect on the true purpose of the annual holiday

By all means, enjoy your time with family and

friends this Memorial Day. But don't forget to
reflect on the true purpose of the holiday.

Today is Memorial Day here in Johnsburg and throughout the country. It’s time to light up the grill and enjoy the unofficial first day of summer. Of course, that’s not the actual purpose of this national holiday.

Some seem to think Memorial Day is about veterans. That’s only partially true.

We celebrate our veterans, specifically, on November 11, each year, the anniversary of the day WWI ended. But Memorial Day is a somber event when we consider that it’s about the veterans who paid the ultimate price for the liberties we enjoy every day.

Memorial Day is about those who gave their lives in the defense of America and our liberties.

This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t enjoy a barbequed meal and the company of friends. It even makes sense that we would enjoy some pleasurable outdoor activities, weather accommodating. But it does mean that we should, at least, take a moment to consider why we’re able to enjoy this day – to think about those who were never able to enjoy another Memorial Day because the holiday is about them.

The History of Memorial Day

The first Memorial Day was observed on May 30, 1868. At the time, however, it was known as Decoration Day. Widespread use of the name Memorial Day took hold after WWII.

Wikipedia reports that “the holiday was proclaimed by Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic – a fraternal organization of veterans.”

The veterans they were honoring were those who died during the Civil War.

ary Ann Willions, with the Ladies Memorial Association of Columbus, GA, is credited with the idea that it would be an annual event where they would decorate the graves of Civil War veterans with flowers.

The concept caught on in state after state until, in 1890, all the Union states were recognizing the event.

Early on, some Southern states honored the day but referred to it as Confederate Memorial Day. But that practice has since fallen by the wayside.

In 2020, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act, which askes people to pause at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day. Additionally, on Memorial Day, the US flag is to be “briskly” raised to the top of the staff and then “solemnly” lowered to half-staff. It remains there until noon, at which time it is returned to full-staff.

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