How to Observe Memorial Day

"...gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime....let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan." --General John Logan, General Order No. 11, 5 May 1868 The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice:

by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of
our fallen heroes.

by visiting memorials.

by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.

by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998
Defense Authorization Act).

by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance":
at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day,
and for Taps to be played.

by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our
fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

Also, please consider adding your voice in support of the efforts
to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to
May 30th (instead of "the last Monday in May"). This would help
greatly to return the solemn meaning back to the day, and to help
return minds and hearts to think upon the ultimate sacrifices made by
those in service to our country. Just one day out of the year to honor
our loved ones, our ancestors, our friends who died in conflicts and wars
-- not to honor war, but those that died in those conflicts and wars.