Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering and honoring our armed service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. We celebrate Memorial Day each year on the last Monday in May.

Memorial Day began at the national level on May 30, 1868, as Decoration Day, with a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor fallen Civil War soldiers. This tradition continued to grow, and following World War I, Decoration Day became a day of remembrance of all soldiers, sailors, and Marines who died in service to their nation, not just the Civil War.

It was not until after World War II that the holiday became more popularly known as Memorial Day.

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs website…

“Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.”

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day.

This Memorial Day, May 27, 2019, from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM join Osceola Memory Gardens located at 1717 Old Boggy Creek Road, Kissimmee, with participation of the Osceola Veterans Council as they honor those who, in the service of our country, made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

In commemoration of Memorial Day, City of St. Cloud will be honoring the men & women who gave their lives in service of protecting our nation’s freedom with a special Wreath Laying Ceremony on Monday, May 27, 2019, starting at 10:00 am at Mount Peace Cemetery, located at 755 East 10th Street, St. Cloud.

Remember the next time you see a veteran or member of the active military  to show your appreciation of their service by saying thank you, shaking their hand, or simply giving them a smile in gratitude. They are the reason our free nation remains free.