Today is Memorial Day and many of us will be celebrating it in different ways. Some will be spending the day with family and friends, many will be enjoying a barbeque or a picnic, some will be having fun at the beach. Whatever way you choose to celebrate, please remember what this holiday is all about. Take a moment to stand in remembrance for those who have lost their lives so that the rest of us can have a little fun on a day like this. I hope many Americans actively observe Memorial Day by participating in an official Moment of Remembrance or undertaking other acts in honor of the over 1.3 million service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Established by Congress, the National Moment of Remembrance asks Americans to pause in an act of remembrance for one minute on Memorial Day at 3 p.m. local time.
The Moment can be as informal as a moment of silence, ringing a bell, saying a prayer or singing at a concert, anything that you may be comfortable with to honor those fallen heroes.
Additional acts of Memorial Day remembrance can include the following (suggested by the Soliders Angels):
• Visit a local VA hospital to learn the stories of patients’ fellow soldiers who never came home
• Use blogs, Facebook or other online resources tell the stories of family members who died in service to the country
• Read the names of fallen heroes on websites such as Honor the Fallen.
• Throw a care package party or write letters of encouragement for a hard-hit unit or the Mortuary Affairs units that care for America’s fallen heroes (for info, email events@soldiersangels.org)
• Visit a local military cemetery or memorial to stand in quiet solidarity with those who have lost their brothers and sisters in arms on the battlefield
• With conscious awareness of those who have made our safety possible, enjoy a weekend vacation or celebration in “the land of the free because of the brave”
• Attend a local parade
• Fly the American flag (at half-staff until noon and then full height until dusk, if possible)
• Use Angels Mail to tell your story of a fallen hero (send it to angels@soldiersangels.org and they will post it for you)
Please make a commitment to promote the National Moment of Remembrance and other Memorial Day activities to local leaders and businesses. This is a time to come together in honor of those who have given their lives so that we may continue to live free. In this shared remembrance and shared activities, we stand united in gratitude as one America.
Live Long and Prosper.....
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