On
this Memorial Day, we honor the military personnel who had died while serving
in the United States Armed Forces. Our
nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay, but we
can honor their sacrifice on Memorial Day and every day!
Originally
known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and
became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day
by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and
participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer
season.
Early
Observances of Memorial Day
The
Civil War, which ended in the Spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any
conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first
national cemeteries.
By
the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding Springtime
tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with
flowers and reciting prayers.
Did
you know each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place
at 3:00 p.m. local time?
It
is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different
communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. And some
records show that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized
by a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina less than
a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal
government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial
Day.
Ways
to Observe Memorial Day
Attend a Veteran's Day Ceremony
Visit a
Veteran's Memorial or Museum
Donate to a Veteran's Organization
Thank a Veteran
Wear a
Red Poppy
But
most importantly, on this Memorial Day let us honor those who gave their lives
for our country. Our warmest wishes and
deepest gratitude to the families of our fallen heroes.
Sincerely,
The Council for Morgandale Condominium Association
Tim Cooney, President
Gary Cassel, Treasurer
Marianne Natali, Vice President
Caren Rosch, 2nd Vice President
Corey Anderson
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