Honor Their Sacrifice: Memorial Day Is More Than a Day Off

Memorial Day

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and for quite a few people, it’s seen as just an extra day off from work. And yes, an extra day off work is great and all — but do you know why we have that extra day?

A lot of people have forgotten the reason behind it. Some are even clueless as to why there’s a holiday called Memorial Day.

That’s just sad. People have died so that we have a holiday — so that most people can enjoy an extra day off.

But their deaths weren’t just so people could relax and have fun.
It was so that we have our freedom.

Freedom to be whoever or whatever we want.
Freedom to do pretty much whatever we want.
Freedom to love whomever we want.
Freedom to succeed or fail, to speak or be silent.
Freedom to be our true selves—and so, so much more.

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance.

I was curious about when Memorial Day was first established, and here’s what I found: the day of remembrance officially began in May of 1868, led by General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a group of Union Civil War veterans. He called for a nationwide day of remembrance to decorate the graves of soldiers who died during the Civil War.

Originally, it was called Decoration Day—the name was later changed to Memorial Day, and it became a federal holiday in 1971.

There’s a wonderful and informative story on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website — specifically through the National Cemetery Administration.
Here’s the link if you’d like to read it (and I highly recommend it):
🔗 https://www.cem.va.gov/history/Memorial-Day-history.asp

So when you’re setting up the grill, having friends over for a party, playing games, drinking a few, or doing whatever it is you do on that holiday — take at least five minutes. Five minutes of silence to remember and hold in your heart those who gave their lives for your freedom—and for your right to host a barbecue.

Five minutes. That’s all. More if you can.

Take your thoughts even further back than the Civil War. Think of all the soldiers who have stepped up — for their country, their people, their freedom, their land—for something they believed in deeply enough to die for.

Personally, I have several family members, friends, and ex-boyfriends who are veterans. I’m thankful that each of them made it home—yes, even the ex-boyfriends. A couple of the veterans were in locations that could have easily changed how they came home.

Not that they didn’t come home with scars, because they did. But they are home. Alive.

So be grateful for over veterans, for all of them.
Be grateful for those who didn’t make it back.

Life is a precious gift.
When someone gives that gift up for you and me, the least we can do is take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate them.

Should we celebrate Memorial Day with a party or barbecue?
Yes.

Celebrate the lives that were lived and given. Celebrate what we’ve received, born of love and belief so strong that someone gave their life for it.
Yes, celebrate. For them.

Thank you for stopping by my site. Please do check out the story in the link—it’s nice to know how this holiday became important enough to become a holiday.

Till next time, hug a veteran and thank them for their service.
May your time be filled with hugs, love, laughter, and many blessings. 💙❤️🤍