Take some time to remember Memorial Day

Another Memorial Day weekend is upon us.

The unofficial start of summer, a day for barbecues and picnics. A long weekend. For some, the end of the school year. And, oh yes, a day that was established for a specific purpose.

Among all the activities that we will be enjoying this weekend, let’s take some time to reflect on the reason for a designated Memorial Day.

As most of us probably learned in school it startedin the waning years of the Civil War and immediately afterwards when communities, north and south, black and white, decorated soldiers’ graves with flowers in the springtime.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website, in 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic, a politically powerful organization of union veterans led by Major Gen. John A. Logan issued its own “Memorial Day Act” formally establishing a Decoration Day when the nation would remember its war dead and decorate their graves.

It is not known for sure who held the first formal gathering but it is known that in 1866 the ladies of Columbus, Ga., lobbied for a clearly defined date for the observance.

It is known the first national celebration took place on May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

After World War I it expanded to include the dead of that war and it continued to expand through World War II and Korea.

Although the federal government continued to recognize the day through legislative action, it was not until 1966 and a congressional resolution and proclamation by Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson that it was officially recognized. In 1968 it was designated a national holiday and moved to the last Monday in May.

It was changing the date from May 30 to the last day of May that led to the three-day weekend we now enjoy.

This weekend there are a variety of events scheduled for Monday morning to remember the original intent of the observance.

Byron will be dedicating its Veterans’ Memorial. In Kasson, Mantorville, Hayfield, Claremont, Dodge Center, and West Concord local American Legion Posts will be leading the Memorial Day observances, often including short services at local cemeteries and a larger program at one of them.

So, take a little time this weekend from other holiday activities to remember the sacrifices that these individuals have made throughout our history. Attend one of the local programs, perhaps watch the National Memorial Day Concert on television, or just give a little thought to the day.

In these divided and polarized times, certainly this is something that all Americans can agree on.