the facts from Wikipedia
Type | Federal (and most U.S. states) |
---|---|
Significance | Honors men and women who have died in military service |
Date | Last Monday in May |
2008 date | May 26, 2008 |
2009 date | May 25, 2009 |
Observances | visiting cemeteries |
Memorial Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (in 2008 on May 26). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who perished while in military service to their country. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War I to include casualties of any war or military action.
I have always associated Memorial Day with our wedding anniversary which is may 31 but now that it isn’t on the 30th it isn’t so close. May 30th is also the date that my Dad passed away so it is kind of a weird time. We were in Southern California to all gather for my brother’s graduation from Medical School. My Dad had been real sick and couldn’t make it to my brother’s graduation ceremony so we all gathered back home. My Dad waited till we all got there but that was all he had to give. He passed away while we were there. That was in ’94. About 7 months after we had moved to TN. He was diagnosed just shortly before we moved but he wanted us to go anyway. I talked to him on the phone every other day, long distance from TN to CA for 7 months. I loved my Dad. So while most of America celebrates by remembering soldiers who had died for something they believed in, I remember my Dad who lived for something he believed in, his family.
What do you remember on Memorial Day?
and .. your thoughts?