Take time to remember the reason for Memorial Day

MEMORIAL DAY has evolved to a time when people place flowers on the graves of loved ones, but the original intent was to honor military service personnel who have lost their lives in service to America. Both types of tributes — one personal and the other part of a solemn national effort — are appropriate. However, special emphasis should be placed on recognizing the sacrifices of our war dead by participating in Memorial Day services that will take place throughout the Mid Mon Valley and Mon-Yough areas. Today’s Mon Valley Independent includes a special Memorial Day section with information about numerous events scheduled Sunday and Monday, and we encourage you to set aside time to attend a service, either in your municipality or somewhere nearby. We realize doing so is not as easy as it once was, plus many of us will be working on Sunday and Monday, which makes participation more difficult. Memorial Day has become the “official” beginning of the summer recreation season and a traditional time for picnics and other activities. It is OK to celebrate the season in those ways, but considering what America’s greatest patriots gave up in the name of freedom — their lives and their futures — we call on every person to make a Memorial Day observance part of his or her holiday weekend. Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday began in the years following the Civil War to honor fallen officers who had served the country in the armed forces. For many years, Decoration Day/Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30, but in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a threeday weekend for federal employees, according to history.com. While some of us may engage in barbecues and other long-awaited family get-togethers this weekend, others will maintain the tradition of decorating graves, honoring the countless other Americans who paid the price for those who came after them. Whatever we do, let us not squander their priceless gift.