Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who died in our nation's service. General John A. Logan, of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared May 30, 1868 as a day of observance "to honor those who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion." Mourners honored the Civil War dead by decorating their graves with flowers. The annual observance thereafter became know as Decoration Day.
Following World War I, observers began to honor the dead of all American Wars and the day became known as Memorial Day. Towns across America would hold ceremonies in cemeteries and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with American flags and/or flowers. In 1971, the Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be observed on the last Monday in May.
Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans have not learned or have forgotten its meaning and traditions. The graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored or neglected. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, some people think the day is for honoring all veterans or for honoring all dead and not just those fallen in service to our country. Worse yet, many people think of Memorial Day only as a day for picnics and cook-outs to celebrate the coming of summer.
To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed in December 2000 which asks that at 3:00 p.m. local time, all Americans should voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence, listening to Taps, or prayer.
God richly blessed our nation with founding leaders who turned to God's Word for guidance, with very brave men and women who were willing to make sacrifices, even to death, to defend the Word and the law of the land, and with courageous service men and women who continue to guard and defend the rights and freedom of people in this great land. My prayer is for people in America to remember the blessings of God and to place their faith and trust in Him. I am grateful for all of those dear souls who gave their lives for my personal freedom, and I am especially grateful to Jesus Christ for giving his life for mine so that I may have eternal life with Him in His Kingdom forever. Glory to God!
