May 24, 2019

Thoughts on Memorial Day

Topic: Leadership

By Pete Hanebutt, NDFB Public Policy Director

The last Monday in May has been recognized as Memorial Day for quite some time, although the holiday was not standardized until 100 years after its inception.

Originally the holiday was called Decoration Day going back to the Civil War. Back then, it was celebrated on a variety of dates in the North and the South. Regardless of the actual days originally observed, the purpose has remained the same: To honor the memory of and decorate the graves of those who gave their lives in the service of their country. Even for those whose ‘country’ was not the United States of America back in the early 1860s, the idea of honoring our fallen heroes is a long-standing hallmark of the American people. Since the uniform date was set by Congress in 1968 we have honored all those who have paid the ultimate price while preserving our freedoms from the Revolution to the present.

Read the rest of Pete's post on My NDFB Life.