The last Monday in May is a special day that commemorates those that we have lost in battle through all the wars and conflicts in history, including those from all branches of the armed forces.
This blog post provides background on how this special holiday was developed and how you can remember fallen soldiers this Memorial Day.
Memorial Day History
The first Memorial Day was proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan who was national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.
While the holiday first was recognized by the northern states, it took some time to convince the southern states to recognize this as a holiday. In fact, many states still also conduct their own remembrance days for those who have died in our nation’s service.
Memorial Day is now recognized as a three-day weekend and Federal holiday thanks to the National Holiday Act of 1971.
Memorial Day Celebrations
While it is often just looked at by many as a three-day break from work and school, including time for quick weekend getaways, barbecues, and the start of summer vacation, many people across the nation still take the time to remember those who have fallen while fighting for our freedom.
There are many ways to participate in Memorial Day activities, depending on where you are living:
- Local Memorial Day parades
- Local Memorial Day graveside services
- National Moment of Remembrance at 3pm local time with a moment of silence and playing of “Taps”
- Flag at half staff
Memorial Day Flowers
Whether you have a loved one that has been lost in a war or you want to just honor your fellow patriots for their efforts to keep our country safe, you can select Memorial Day flowers or Memorial Day wreaths to lay at a grave site.
Or, you can buy some patriotic flowers to display around your home to celebrate your national pride and remembrance of fallen soldiers. A patriotic display of red, blue, and white flowers is a nice touch for a Memorial Day picnic or barbecue as well.
Remembering
On behalf of all the Peoples Flower Shops locations, we would like to extend our thanks to the families and friends for the sacrifices that their loved ones have made for our country. We are also taking this time to remember those that we have lost in service to our country.
