By Brody Walsh

Every year in the United States the last Monday in May is designated as Memorial Day, a day to remember those who have lost their lives in service of the United States. Memorial Day is one of two federal holidays that we observe to honor our service men and women, the other being Veteran’s Day. The latter honors all veterans, while Memorial Day is designated to honor those who have passed while serving. Memorial Day is the older of the two holidays and has a rich history with origins dating all the way back to the Civil War. Knowing this history is a crucial part of understanding and honoring those who’ve lost their lives in service.

Memorial Day is one of the oldest holidays in the United States. Dating back to 1868 when it was established as a national public holiday by General John A. Logan, who was the head of a group of Union veterans from the Civil War. Then called Decoration Day, named for the practice of decorating the graves of soldiers lost during the civil war. The origin of this practice is even older, dating back to June 3rd, 1861 when John Quincy Marr’s grave was decorated following the Battle of Fairfax Courthouse. Decoration Day would become recognized as a federal holiday in 1938, and in 1967, the name would officially change to Memorial Day.

Many American soldiers have lost their lives in service to the country, and Memorial Day is an important part of honoring their sacrifices. It’s much more than an extra day off or an unofficial start to the summer. So, this year take a moment to remember those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.