We want to recognize those who have and are serving our country. Because of their selfless service, we are blessed with the freedoms some can only hope for.

On Monday we celebrated Memorial Day and had the chance to honor those who have fallen. The holiday began as Decoration Day, celebrated every May 30 following the Civil War. General John A. Logan, in 1868, called for a nationwide day “designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

The date, May 30, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. In 1968 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed, establishing the last Monday in May as Memorial Day in order to give federal employees a three day weekend. In 1971 this change went into effect and the day became a federal holiday.

Please thank a soldier today.