As Memorial Day weekend approaches, we all look forward to our plans. We look forward to the unofficial start of the summer, to vacations, and days spent at the pool. We look forward to camp outs, cook outs, barbeque and apple pie. At IMI, we appreciate the extra time we get to spend with our families and friends.
However, within these fun filled days of the upcoming weekend, we must remind ourselves the reason for the holiday. We must remind ourselves that this day has been set aside to honor those men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day this day of reflection began after the Civil War in the 1860s. In 1868 General John A. Logan proclaimed the day remembrance should take place on May 30th. One hundred years later, in 1968, Congress established the last Monday in May as Memorial Day and declared it a federal holiday.
In his speech given in 1868 at a Decoration Day ceremony in Arlington Cemetery, James A. Garfield had the following to offer: “If silence is ever golden, it must be here beside the graves of fifteen thousand men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem, the music of which can never be sung.” Now 150 years later, the number of dead at Arlington alone is 400,000. We feel it is important to take time to focus on and remember those brave souls who gave their lives for our freedom. To pause and honor the sacrifices of our heroes. To never forget.
From all of us at IMI, have a safe and happy holiday and remember we don’t know them all, but we owe them all.
Happy Memorial Day.
