Memorial Day

Throughout our history, we have been blessed by the courage and commitment of Americans who were willing to pay the price of their tomorrows.  More than 1.3 million of them have fought and died for our safety and freedom. No matter what battlefield they died on ... every one helped to build the nation we love.

While we can never repay our debt to our fallen warriors, we can remember their service and honor their sacrifice.  We all should have a special place in our heart to honor all those who gave their lives so that we and our future generations might live in freedom.  We can remember our dead war heroes in some special way, whether by placing flowers on a veteran's grave, lighting a candle, observing a moment of silence, or saying a prayer of thanks.


History of Memorial Day

After the Civil war many people in the North and South decorated graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. Decoration Day, a day to remember those who have died in our nation's service, was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan. The South refused to acknowledge Decoration Day, honoring their dead on separate days. After World War I, the name was changed to Memorial Day, honoring soldiers who had died in other wars. States in both North and South accepted and it was celebrated on May 30th. President Nixon, in 1971, declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May.

Memorial Day

Peter DeVries

This is a day of homage
To our immortal dead
A day that we pay tribute
To those who fought and bled

A day that we remember
Each single fallen son
Who gave his very utmost
And life’s work now is done

A day of deep reflections
A day we wonder why
Men cannot learn to live in peace
And not wage war and die

A day we should resolve and pledge
The peace they strove to gain
Will be safeguarded and preserved
So they died not in vain

A day we hear the muted taps
So softly fade away
A farewell to our honored dead
On this, a special day

Sergeant Major Peter DeVries, retired
Airborne Division, 10
Special Forces, 8th Ranger Company