Happy Memorial Day! Did You Know All This about It?
Honoring the Fallen
Memorial Day "is really a very solemn holiday to remember the supreme sacrifice that service members in our nation have made for us so that we can have freedom," said Maj. Gen. James Mukoyama. For him, the most important liberty is religious freedom. "If you read any books about prisoners of war and the Holocaust, the people who had strong religious foundations were able to better handle their situation.”
Regrettably, a Gallup Poll in 2000 revealed that only 28% of Americans knew the true meaning of Memorial Day (the day to remember those who died while serving in our nation's armed forces), and 40% confused it with Veterans Day (the day to celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans).
Memorial Day began on May 30, 1868, as Decoration Day, with a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor fallen Civil War soldiers. Following World War I, Decoration Day became a day to honor all soldiers, sailors, and Marines who died in service to our nation. After World War II, the holiday was called Memorial Day.
More than 1.3 million men and women have died in service to the nation from the Revolutionary War to World War II to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000 that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause for one minute in a symbolic act of unity to "remember and honor the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace." All Amtrak trains sound their whistles for the entire minute.
(chicagotribune.com, 5/28/18; heritage.org, 5/25/18; militaryfreedom.org)
Gracious God,
On this Memorial Day, we pray for those who courageously laid down their lives for the cause of Freedom. In union with people of goodwill of every nation, embolden us to work for Peace and Freedom, and thus, seek an end to violence and conflict around the globe. Amen
Lorraine Yovino, Editor
Americans for Freedom of Religion
lkyovino@reagan.com
AI
