Remembering the Reason for Memorial Day

Amid the picnics and family get-togethers, Memorial Day should first and foremost be a day to honor those who have fought and died for our freedom.

"Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure."

President Abraham Lincoln

For many Americans, Memorial Day means the first three-day weekend of summer filled with barbeques or picnics with family and friends, camping trips or a shopping day at the hardware store for home repair projects.

For other Americans, the day is sacred. A time to pay tribute to fallen war heroes. They feel the impact of a soldier's name you might casually glance at in your local newspaper. That name is their mom or dad, aunt or uncle, brother or sister, daughter or son.

No matter what your view is on war, it is important to honor U.S. soldiers who have paid the ultimate price.

So before we light our grills and grab our hammers, let's pause to remember those bravehearts who died to protect our freedoms—including our freedom to worship God freely.

Why Remember?

Memorial Day was established to honor those who died in the Civil War. In 1867, Nella L. Sweet wrote "Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping," which captures the heart of Memorial Day. Here's a portion of that timeless hymn.

Here we find our noble died, their spirits soar'd to him above, Rest they now about his throne, For God is mercy, God is love.Then let us pray that we may live, As pure and good as they have been.

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan declared May 30th as a day to honor those who died to defend our nation by decorating their graves. In his General Order #11, Logan stated,

"Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from his honor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan."

Memorial Day was originally named Decoration Day, because mourners decorated soldiers' graves from the Civil War. Approximately 5,000 mourners, including orphans and widows, placed flowers and flags on the 20,000 Union and Confederate war heroes' graves buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. To show their respect, supporters gathered, recited poems, sang hymns and marched.

In 1873, New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday by closing stores and having memorial services. By the late 1800s, many communities across our nation celebrated Memorial Day. And after World War I, the day of remembrance changed to honor Americans who died fighting in any war.

Every year since the 1950s, soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry have placed over 260, 000 small American flags at each gravestone at Arlington National Cemetery on the Thursday before Memorial Day. During that weekend, they patrol 24 hours a day to make sure all flags remain standing. One of the most popular tourist sites there is the Tomb of the Unknowns. The monument inscription reads, "Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God." On Memorial Day, presidents have given speeches and placed a wreath on the tomb to show respect.

In 1971, Congress declared the last Monday in May as Memorial Day, making it a federal holiday. Memorial Day is one day a year all U.S. citizens should remember the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers. Because of their bravery, we have freedom.

15 Simple Ways to Remember:

• Send an e-card or traditional card to those affected by lost loved ones. Most greeting card websites offer Memorial Day e-cards. Here are two sites. http://www.americangreetings.com/ecards/category.pd/Occasions-Holidays-May-Memorial-Day/_/N-812s* or http://www.dayspring.com/ecards/subcat.asp?CategoryID=1&SubCategoryID=35&CardID=0*
• Fly the American flag at half-staff on Memorial Day from dawn until noon local time. Or display the POW/MIA Flag if you have one.
• Print and read "I am the Flag" by Ruth Apperson Rous. http://www.usflag.org/iamtheflag.html*
• Read about proper flag folding to remember our religious freedom and our nation's Christian roots. http://www.usflag.org/foldflag.html*
• Print and play this Test Your Flag Knowledge Game. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/253037/test_your_flag_knowledge_this_memorial.html*
• At 3pm local time on Memorial Day, pause for The National Moment of Remembrance, which President Clinton signed in December 2000. Turn on your radio or television during this "moment" and listen to Taps. Link to Taps: http://www.usmemorialday.org/taps.html*
• As Christians, we can take that moment to pray. This moment is for a time of unity for our nation, where we come together and remember those who died for our freedom.
• Check local TV stations, websites and newspapers for possible parades or church services to attend. The PBS channel has their 19th Annual Memorial Day Concert. Visit http://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/* for details.
• Visit national cemeteries and memorials. Adorn graves of soldiers with crosses, flower arrangements, or flags using proper etiquette: Stand in front of grave marker. Place flag at foot of marker. Stand straight and salute. Count to three. Leave. Do not step on grave.
• Volunteer for an hour or two at cemetery to help maintain and clean gravesites. Check with your local cemeteries for possible opportunities. This year 250 ninth graders from Tacoma, Wash., went to Tacoma National Cemetery with buckets and brushes and scrubbed gravesites and placed 16,000 small flags to show their respect. For full story: http://www.seattlepi.com/swift/363866_mary21.html*
• Write a thank you prayer for our nation's freedom. Pray for the families who have lost loved ones, asking God to comfort them and bring them peace.
• Consider donating to disabled veterans or widows. Visit: http://www.dav.org/ or http://www.goldstarwives.org/*
• Wear Memorial Day buttons or stickers during May. Display holiday magnets.
• Talk to your children or grandchildren about the reason for the federal holiday.
• If you have a barbeque, consider simple ways to honor the day with family and friends. Say a special remembrance prayer. Read a written reflection. Play patriotic music. Bake a red, white and blue flag cake.
• Ask God to protect and strengthen our servicemen and women. Thank Him for their commitment. Thank God for your freedom to worship freely.

For more information about Memorial Day, please visit http://www.usmemorialday.org*.

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References:

Link to Quote from General's Order #11 http://www.usmemorialday.org/order11.html*

Tiffany Stuart is a freelance writer/speaker living in Colorado Springs, Colo. She writes regularly at her blogs http://www.teawithtiffany.com/ and http://www.thewritingroad.blogspot.com.