Memorial Day

Another Memorial Day comes as Americans enjoy a day off work while getting together with family and friends for traditional backyard good times and charcoal grilled delights. But, the meaning of Memorial Day is sacrifice; the sacrifice of our servicemen and women who give their lives so we can enjoy peace and celebration.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates put it best in his last Memorial Day statement, published in a U.S. Department of Defense press release before his June 30 retirement:

“For many Americans, Memorial Day is a respite from work. But it should be foremost an occasion to reflect, to remember, and to honor all those who have fought and died in defense of our nation. It is also a day to remember family members, who in recent years have borne the brunt of repeated deployments.

Memorial Day is sacrifice; the sacrifice of our servicemen and women who give their lives so we can enjoy peace and celebration.

“Memorial Day must not be the only day in which we keep our troops—men and women like you—in our thoughts. We must always recognize that this generation, like so many before, is keeping watch and serving in faraway lands.

“It has been my greatest honor to serve and to lead you as Secretary of Defense. Virtually every day since taking this post, I have written condolence letters to the families of the fallen. I will always keep all of you in my heart and in my prayers as long as I live—as should all Americans. Thanks for listening.”

Memorial Day started around 1865 at the end of the Civil War to honor fallen soldiers from both sides. After the first world war, however, it was extended to honor those who fell in the Great War. It became an official federal holiday in 1967 and by 1968 Congress had placed the date to the last Monday in May. Today, we honor all U.S. fallen soldiers from every war from current to revolutionary.

In Washington D.C., an Armed Forces full honor wreath-laying ceremony will be conducted at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The U.S. Army Military District of Washington will conduct the ceremony. The ceremony will begin on May 30, at 11 a.m. following a prelude by the U.S. Marine Band at 10:30 a.m. An observance program hosted by the Department of Defense in Arlington’s Memorial Amphitheater will follow the ceremony.

Visitors to the Arlington National Cemetery will notice flags placed in front of the 260,000 gravestones. Those flags were placed there by members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) on May 27.

This tradition known as “flags in” has been continuous every Memorial Day for the past 40 years since The Old Guard was designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit in 1948. Flags are placed one foot in front and centered at each grave.

The Old Guard places flags at the 7,300 niches at the columbarium, 13,500 flags at the Soldier’s and Airmen’s Cemetery, as well as Arlington.

Families of fallen heroes receive a Gold Star pin in remembrance of their loved one who made the ultimate sacrifice. Last year the U.S. Congress designated Dec. 18 as Gold Star Wives Day in an effort to raise awareness of Gold Star significance. Gold Star Mother’s Day, held on the last Sunday in September every year, has brought recognition to mothers who have lost sons and daughters every year since 1936.

First lady Michelle Obama and second lady Jill Biden recently traveled the country to honor military families. The trip was part of their “Joining Forces” program, which means to educate the American public on the sacrifice our nation’s protectors and their relatives make, while encouraging everyone to support them.