EDITOR’S NOTE: Amvets Post 94 in Perryville will be holding a Memorial Day parade and ceremony at the Perry County Courthouse at 10 a.m. Monday. The special speaker will be Rae Lynn Myrick Munoz, executive director of Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial in Perryville. The public is encouraged to attend.
As the nation prepares for the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by generations of American service members who died defending the nation.
Observed on the last Monday of May, the holiday provides a time for remembrance, reflection, and gratitude. Memorial Day’s origins can be traced back to the aftermath of the Civil War, a conflict that claimed more American lives than any other in the nation’s history.
The widespread loss of life resulted in the creation of many impromptu graveyards and a desire to honor the fallen. While several towns and individuals claim to have originated the practice, in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson officially declared Waterloo, New York, as the “birthplace of Memorial Day.”
Originally called Decoration Day, the first official observance occurred on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery. General James A. Garfield delivered a speech, and participants adorned the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers with flowers.
The tradition of decorating graves quickly spread nationwide, and various states recognized Decoration Day as a legal holiday. In the years following the Civil War, Decoration Day gradually evolved to honor all American soldiers who had died in any war.
After World War I, the focus shifted to commemorating all American veterans who had made the ultimate sacrifice. The holiday’s name was officially changed to Memorial Day in 1967, and in 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend.
Today, Memorial Day is celebrated in various ways across the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, placing flags and flowers on the graves of fallen service members. Parades and community events take place in towns and cities nationwide, often featuring veterans’ groups, marching bands, and displays of military equipment.
The National Memorial Day Concert is held annually on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and is broadcast nationally. Despite the festive atmosphere of the long weekend, the core purpose of Memorial Day remains paramount: to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It is a day to reflect on the cost of freedom and the sacrifices made to protect it.
“Memorial Day is more than just a holiday weekend,” said retired General Mark Thompson at a recent wreath-laying ceremony. “It’s a time to remember that our freedoms are not free. They are purchased with the blood, sweat, and tears of those who stood in harm’s way.”
