Commemorating Our Fallen Heroes

This Memorial Day weekend, many people are attempting to experience as much normalcy as possible as they fire up the grill or venture out to the beach. This is to be expected. The weather is becoming warmer and communities around the globe have reduced COVID-19 restrictions (with some exceptions in regions reporting an uptick in cases). Many remain caution and prepared to take needed steps to protect their health while many others feel the world around them have returned to the old normal. But no matter how one might view the current state of affairs with respect to the pandemic, most would agree that nothing should take away from the importance of commemorating an event that has customarily occur in time-honored gatherings.

Today, we observe a time-honored, federal holiday of the United States that commemorates the men and women of the military who died during their service to the country.

The holiday usually includes parades in many towns and cities from coast to coast. There are usually music events held around the country as a celebratory remembrance, including the National Memorial Day Concert held on the eve of Memorial Day on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Many individuals, including civilians, public officials, veterans, and those currently serving in the military, usually choose to spend the holiday visiting the graves of veterans who died in service.

Let’s always honor and remember these fallen heroes, whether in person or virtually, and the sacrifices they made in the name of democracy and freedom.