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Guest Column from Representative Richard Adams
The Importance of
Memorial Day
Pictures of barbeques, picnics and days spent out in the sun come to
mind as we think about the day that kicks off the summer months every
year: Memorial Day. On this day, we often take part in our
favorite summertime activities, getting together with our families and
communities to ring in the new season of relaxation and beautiful
weather. These are some of my favorite thing to do on Memorial
Day as well, but the holiday holds far more significance to me than
summer festivities.
The story of Memorial Day begins in the 1860s, when U.S. civilians were
looking for a way to honor those lost in the Civil War. In 1868,
the first official “Decoration Day” was observed in 27 states, which
consisted of decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers in community
cemeteries in remembrance of their sacrifice made in the Civil War.
Growing from simply decorating graves, Memorial Day has evolved into a
federal holiday marked with parades and community celebrations to
commemorate all fallen soldiers of U.S. conflicts. We gather as
families to have cookouts and picnics, spending time with our loved
ones. The spirit of patriotism runs strong in our communities as
flags are flown and people wear red, white and blue. One of the
most beneficial elements of the day is that it helps to bring our
communities together.
However, we cannot let all of the festivities of Memorial Day
overshadow the true meaning of the holiday: commemorating the countless
men and women who gave their lives so that we can live lives of peace
and liberty. The longest-standing traditions of Memorial Day keep
our fallen heroes in mind. Decorating the graves of soldiers
remains a powerful reminder of the personal sacrifice of each
individual soldier, while flying the flag at half-mast shows the
country’s solidarity in remembrance. Together, we reflect upon
the value of liberty and how blessed we are as Americans, living life
in peace and freedom.
This year’s Memorial Day is particularly special—it falls on May 30th,
the exact date that the first Decoration Day was held. In light
of this, I challenge us all to keep the true meaning of Memorial Day in
our hearts and minds as we celebrate with family and friends.
With more than 5,000 losses of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq to
date, it’s more important than ever that we pay our fallen soldiers due
respect. The National Moment of Reflection will take place at 3
p.m. on Memorial Day, allowing us to pause and reflect upon their
sacrifices, along with the sacrifices of countless other U.S.
soldiers. I wish all of you a fine Memorial Day, full of
reflection, gratitude and peace.
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