"Happy" Memorial Day (And Other Thoughts)
Another Memorial Day is approaching, and with it, mixed feelings that fill the hearts of many service members and their families. For a large portion of our nation, Memorial Day is simply the unofficial start of summer and a happy chance to escape work on a Monday. But at its heart, Memorial Day is the singular day each year that honors all the men and women who have died in service to our country (not to be confused with Veteran's Day in November, which honors anyone, living or deceased, who has served in the Armed Forces). Memorial Day began as a local tradition shortly after the Civil War, when loved ones would decorate the graves of deceased service members. It became known as Decoration Day, and eventually May 30th was reserved for the day of remembrance because flowers across the country would be blooming (although Colorado is making a strong case against that this year). In 1971, Memorial Day was officially declared a national holiday. It remains the