Today is Memorial Day \u2014 a day whose true meaning often gets lost in the activities of a \u201cthree day weekend\u201d that traditionally kicks off the beginning of the summer season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m often puzzled by how many people know so little about the true meaning of Memorial Day, and how many don\u2019t understand the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I often hear people say \u201cHappy Memorial Day\u201d and even though they mean well, the day really isn\u2019t something to celebrate \u2014 it\u2019s a time to honor those fallen in military service to our country. For some, over the years, it\u2019s come be a day to honor not just the war dead, but to remember all deceased members of one\u2019s family, often with a visit to their grave-sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Memorial Day does not honor veterans who came home \u2014 we do that in November. The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in the defense of our country. It\u2019s amazing that as important as this day is it wasn\u2019t until 1971 that Congress made Memorial Day a national holiday\u2026. three years after it passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, creating three-day weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1996, President Clinton signed into law a National Moment of Remembrance \u2014 a full minute of silence at 3 p.m. on the last Monday of every May, to \u201cremember and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So whatever you\u2019re planing to do this Memorial Day \u2014pause for that one moment at 3 p.m. You\u2019ll feel better for it\u2026..
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today is Memorial Day \u2014 a day whose true meaning often gets lost in the activities of a \u201cthree day weekend\u201d that traditionally kicks off the beginning of the summer season. I\u2019m often puzzled by how many people know so … Continue reading