This weekend is one of the most important weekends in our nations history, as we celebrate Memorial Day. First occurring on May 30, 1868, and known as Decoration Day, the day was proclaimed by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic to honor Union Soldiers killed during the Civil War. By 1890, all states of the union had adopted it. In 1967, Congress officially changed the name from Decoration Day to Memorial Day.
This is the day that we celebrate all those who have given their life in defense of our nation, no matter the time period. Everyone at some point either knows someone or had a member of their family who perished during one of the many conflicts that this nation has been involved in. Whether they died on the battlefield, or later from their injuries.
This is NOT the day to thank “a living veteran”, or service members currently in the military, and people get this mixed up. Today is the day to visit a local National Cemetery and walk along and read gravestones, and understand what it means to give your life in defense of the nation.
For me its a day to remember my Step Father Norman Ross, who passed away at 92 and was a veteran of WW2, and my Step Brother in Law William R. Higgins who was kidnapped and killed by terrorists in Lebanon in 1989.
Let us take a moment to silently give thanks that men AND women like this wrote that check to the nation, and gave their all for everyone to have the chance to BBQ this weekend.
Jon Tessler
