Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.
Many Northern states held similar commemorative events to reprise the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I.
Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.
We Honor You Today
To all of our veterans
Far and near,
We thank you for your service
For all those years.
You sacrificed your time,
And some gave your life.
You preserved our freedom
By willingly paying the price.
Many of you
Were sent overseas.
You were wounded in battle
With scars and disease.
But courageous and brave
You weathered the storm.
You faced every battle
With faith and beyond.
We honor you with joy
For all that you've done.
You stood strong for our country,
For our daughters and sons.
So no one stands alone,
We walk hand in hand.
Remember, we are with you.
Together we shall stand.
We salute you today.
Hear what we say.
Let our words speak eloquently
In this special way.
On this Memorial Day,
Let us express our love and thanks
For the sacrifice you paid.
You served in honor
For many years and days,
And we will never forget
How you were strong and brave.
© Susan R. Smith | Published on May 26, 2017
Greg Rapp
Wallace Realty Co.
704 213 6846 Mobile
704 636 2021 Office
www.realestatesalisbury.net
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