Never Forget Their Sacrifice

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May
And HERE is some very cool history!!

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

Memorial Day to me is, Wearing red white and blue, plant the garden, fill the flower pots, put out the new Flag, and watch the memorial concerts on TV. Oh and probably baseball. :) Sometimes its a parade, thankfully we live in a patriotic town. My parents house will fly a Large flag, most likely one that draped one of my grandfather's coffins. I did not know anyone who died in combat, but i am thankful to all who have, i remember thier sacrifice, and pray i never take it for granted. I will teach my children of how our country is different from so many others, how our soldiers offer their lives to save people they never met. NEVER forget! ALL the men and women who died in honor for our freedom.
THANK YOU ! ! ! !