Today we are observing Memorial Day. Memorial Day marks a special occasion in the United States, one we set aside to remember those who gave their lives in the service of the country. It’s a day full of solemn significance and serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that so many of our brave men and women have made, and continue to make, in defense of our national freedoms.

A national (US) holiday since 1971, Memorial Day has long been associated with the remembrance of the fallen, originally in the form of Decoration Day, which began in the aftermath of the American Civil War. After two-and-a-half years of bitter fighting, the first Memorial Day service was held on May 30, 1866, in Waterloo, New York at the initiative of local druggist Henry C. Welles.

Decoration Day, as it was originally known, was meant to honor the dead with flowers and flags it was a way of remembering the war’s fallen heroes and the ultimate sacrifices they made for their country. Across the devastated nation, families and friends gathered to pay tribute to those who had died in the war.

In 1868, General John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day become a national event and a day to honor all civil war dead. By the end of the 19th century, every state in the union had recognized the solemn holiday and in the decades that followed, many of the northern states renamed it Memorial Day, with southern states continuing to call it Decoration Day.

Today, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summertime. Although its somber roots remain, it has become a more relaxed holiday allowing for cookouts, beach trips, and other outdoor fun.
Regardless of how we choose to pass the day, the true spirit of Memorial Day should never be forgotten — a day to appreciate the legacy of all who lost their lives serving our country.

All photos were taken during several of our visits to Washington DC over the years.