MAY 8, 2021 – Memorial Day this year is on Monday, May 31, and is set aside to memorialize the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
The day serves as a time to remember and honor the men and women who died while in military service of our country and honors and respects all Americans who have died for freedom.
Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868 as Decoration Day, and commemorated the sacrifices of Civil War Soldiers and to honor them by decorating their graves. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May and Federal law took effect in 1971.
In 2000, Congress established the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day. During the National Moment of Remembrance Americans are asked to pause for one minute at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to honor and respect those who died for our freedom.
Our nation marks Memorial Day to honor and pay tribute to brave Americans who gave their life for this country. Many generations have sacrificed in defense of our nation, our liberty, and our desire to improve our country. On Memorial Day, we humbly honor these incredible patriots and have a solemn duty to uphold their legacy.
At its core, Memorial Day speaks of personal sacrifice for a greater good. It resonates in the stories of ordinary Americans, who fought for a better world and were willing to lay down their lives. Our way of life is shaped by those who have served and those who were lost. We have benefited from their positive influence on our world. It is our solemn duty to honor for our fallen brothers and sisters in arms and their families. This day reflects on heroes from historically distant wars passed and current operations.
We honor their legacy and work toward a peaceful future, in which wars are a faded memory.
I encourage you all to keep the legacy of our fallen brothers and sisters in arms alive within your communities. Take time to reflect together with your friends, neighbors, groups, and communities, so those stories and sacrifices are never forgotten.
Courtesy Story
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
