Most know this about Memorial Day

Veteran's Day is for the living warriors, and Memorial Day is for the fallen warriors.

Memorial Day is a day of "National Mourning." All U.S. Flags should be displayed at half-staff during the morning hours. At noon, they should be raised back to full-staff.

It's a sacred day to all war veterans - none needs to be reminded of the reason why Memorial Day must be commemorated. But what about the general public, and more importantly, future generations? Do most non-veterans really recognize the importance of Memorial Day?

Celebrated in most states on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is a time to remember the U.S. men and woman who lost their lives serving their country. Originally known as: "Decoration Day", it was established in 1868 to commemorate the dead from the Civil War. Over the years, it came to serve as a day to remember all U.S. men and women killed or missing in action in all wars.

But what does it really mean?
For some its just the start of summer days in the sun,
For merchants, it's the first big holiday after Christmas and New Years Day.
But would any of this be possible without the service men and women?
Some gave their alls, so we might have our todays.
Members of our armed forces are now doing that in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Those of us that served, need no reminding of what this day really means.
We could quote famous people and poets on the horrors of war.
But some don't listen to those warnings.
So we go to a war of their making,
Thus insuring that we honor more on the day known as Memorial Day.
A day of mourning for our dead in all our wars.
That is no holiday or is it.
If we take that word apart. Holi or Holy Day...that what it really should mean.
And why we observed a last Monday in May...

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo