We Remember
No legal post. Today is Memorial Day on which we commemorate the valiant men and women who died while serving in the American military. Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed in May, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
It has been said that we should not think of the day as only one of mourning; a half-masted flag might be replaced by the flag at its peak, because those whose sacrifice we commemorate were proud to see the flag flying where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. As General Patton wrote, we should not just mourn those who died; rather, we should thank God that they lived.
