by Midnight Freemason Contributor
Bro. Brian Schimian
Originally called Decoration Day, a day of remembrance, was
established in May of 1868, 3 years after the end of the Civil War. The
head of the Grand Army of the Republic declared that this day would be
May 30th and celebrated by decorating the graves of the dead soldiers
with flowers.
The
first large observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery. After a
number of speechs, service members and children made their way through
the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves as
they recited prayers and sang hymns.
By
the end of the 1800’s, “Memorial Day” celebrations were happening all
over the Nation on May 30th. After WWI, the celebrations were expanded
to include all service personnel from any war. Memorial Day as we know
it today was declared a National Holiday by Congress and signed by
President Nixon in 1971. That same act is what moved the day of
remembrance to the last Monday in May.
To
ensure that America’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December
2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The
National Moment of Remembrance Act,” creating the White House Commission
on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission’s charter is to
“Encourage the people of the United States to give something back to
their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity.”.
All
Americans are encouraged to pause at 3PM local time on Memorial Day for
a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in
service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella
LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in
Memorial Day.”
So
from all of the Midnight Freemasons to every Service Member, past &
present, Thank You and may the Supreme Architect of the Universe forever
be your guiding light, in this life and the next. We would also like
to take a moment to acknowledge the families of all the service members
for the sacrifices that they make on a daily basis while their loved ones
are off defending our freedoms here at home.
To those whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice, Thank You and may you rest well. We have it from
here.
To those whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice, Thank You and may you rest well. We have it from
here.
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