The Meaning of Memorial Day

The Meaning of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, and it is the day se aside to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.  Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, and the holiday originated in the years following the Civil War, becoming an official federal holiday in 1971.

As a kid, I rode my bicycle in the local Memorial Day parade, the tire spokes woven with red, white, and blue crepe paper.  Looking back, I am wondering how much I really thought about the meaning of this holiday.  Today, I am thankful that so many men and women served in uniform to protect my freedom, and I will, like many, visit the local cemetery, for me the Contoocook Village Cemetery.  I will admire the flags that folks from the American Legion have placed on the graves of those who served, including my father and grandfather. My dad, and his father, both came home, but of course, too many others did not. Memorial Day is their day.

 “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”   -Unknown