Let's celebrate Memorial Day once more with feeling.

It's an old holiday and we tend to forget. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.
It was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. After World War I the holiday was changed from
honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed in Dec 2000 which asks that all Americans "Voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect,
pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or
listening to 'Taps'at 3 p.m. local time."

There are many who sacrifice daily, some suffer from old wounds, some will never recover. One week before Christmas last year I met a veteran on the shuttle from Los Angeles International Airport. Our conversation quickly disclosed that he is a Vietnam
Vet and I was involved in the burial of the Unknown Serviceman from Vietnam twenty years ago.

He talked about returning from Vietnam and landing at the airport in San Bernardino, CA. He was in the Marine Corps and he couldn’t understand why people were calling them names and throwing things at them. "Things I can’t even mention in public. I tried to
understand," he said. "It’s a free country and they could protest. But why the insults? We didn’t do anything wrong. I still think of it sometimes and when it gets so bad I can’t stand
it, I go for a walk in the woods. And I cry. You understand, don't you?"

He is not angry or bitter. He is dealing with vivid memories of his fellow Americans turning on him and his buddies. "You understand, don’t you?" You can make a positive difference. Stand behind our military men and women. Take a lawn chair, sit on the
curb, and watch a local parade. Stand when the flag goes by and shed a tear when you hear "Taps."

David Merchant's website suggests that you remember
-- by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
-- by visiting memorials.
-- by flying the US Flag at half-staff until noon.
-- by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
-- by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance":
at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
-- by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans

President Ronald Reagan, presenting the Medal of Honor on May 28, 1984, at the Tombs of the Unknown, said
An American hero has returned home.
God bless him.
We may not know of this man’s life,
but we know of his character.
We may not know his name,
but we know his courage.
He is the heart, the soul and the spirit of America.

God bless America!