TRANSCRIPT:
This coming weekend is the Memorial Day Holiday. While for many, this weekend signals the beginning of the Summer Season, its meaning is much more significant, which is what brings me to the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery located in Spanish Fort, AL.
What once was known as Decoration Day began three years following the American Civil War. It was a time for the nation to remember those who died in the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers. They chose May 30th to be Decoration Day because by that time, plenty of flowers should have been in bloom.
Decoration Day continued to be observed throughout the years, and after World War I, the day was expanded to honor all American war fatalities. By the time World War II ended, the name Decoration Day was replaced with Memorial Day.
In 1968, Memorial Day was changed from every May 30th to the last Monday in May, but never once was it intended to be a day to celebrate the joys of summer. While having a summer celebration isn’t a bad thing, we would encourage all Americans to take a moment during this coming weekend to remember those brave men and women of the military who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
It was lawyer, Civil War General, U.S. Congressman and, ultimately, President of the United States James Garfield who summed it up best when speaking about the honorees of this solemn occasion said, “We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”
From all of us at Integrity Adjusters, we thank the families of our nation’s honored war fatalities for the bravery and commitment each has given to our great country.