For many folks, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer. For others it’s the quiet remembrance of soldiers who gave their lives for liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.
Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day – Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, whereas Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. It is also not to be confused with Armed Forces Day, a minor U.S. remembrance celebrated earlier in May, which specifically honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.
The truth is that Memorial Day is and should be the moment that we pay tribute to the soldiers who fell in battle for us.
In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act, asking people to stop and remember at 3:00 PMOn Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.
The President lays a wreath each year at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to U.S. service members who have died without their remains being identified. Currently buried there are the unknown soldiers of World War I, World War II and Korea.
Having no officially designated name, it is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States of America.
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