Tribute to Soldiers Who Died Serving Our Country

Many will celebrate Memorial Day as the beginning of summer, but its real meaning is far more important than visiting with family, hanging out by the pool, going to the beach or grilling out in the backyard.  It is also much more than a day off from work!  It is a day to honor those in the United States military who gave their lives for our freedom.

Memorial Day is specifically set aside to honor the memory of those who died serving our country, unlike Veteran’s Day which is also set aside to honor those who are still alive.  Memorial Day originally began as a day to recognize those who died in the Civil War, the single bloodiest war in American history.  It was originally known as  Decoration Day.

Decoration Day got its name from the efforts of southern women to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers not long after the end of the Civil War.  It was not until 1971 that the last Monday in May was set aside as Memorial Day and declared a national holiday. 

A wreath-laying ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina.   Participants will then travel to the National Cemetery Annex behind the Hefner VA Medical Center on Brenner Avenue for a program to begin at 10 a.m.

In the Maple Grove Cemetery in the Borough of Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, lies a memorial in honor of all veterans.  It is named the All Wars Monument.   The All Wars Monument is a cast-stone monument located near the flagpole, which contains plaques of each service designation (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard). The Rowan County Veterans Council donated it on May 27, 1990.

As an American, I’m proud of our country and very thankful to all those in our military for giving their lives for our freedom.  May all of you have a very safe Memorial weekend – and remember on Monday that it’s more than just a fun holiday.  May our Stars and Stripes fly proudly!