Through hot and cold, rain and snow, and without the air conditioning and heat that we’ve come to depend on, millions of Americans endured grueling conditions fighting for our country in the Civil War and many subsequent wars in foreign countries.
These men and women made great sacrifices that we continue to reap the benefits of today. We’re proud to honor them and so many other brave Americans this Memorial Day. So while many people focus on grilling and outdoor fun, it’s always important to remember those who sacrificed it all to give us those leisures.
The History of Decoration Day
There are many different opinions about the exact origin of Decoration Day, which we now call Memorial Day. What is clear is that it began with the tradition of family and friends decorating the graves of fallen soldiers in the years after the Civil War.
The tradition seems to have originated in southern states, but it officially took hold when General John Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic established an official Decoration Day celebration on May 30, 1868.
On that first official Decoration Day, General James Garfield gave a speech at Arlington Cemetery after which nearly 5,000 soldiers decorated nearly 20,000 graves. This Decoration Day tradition spread throughout communities across the country and was marked with cemetery visits, festivities and services to honor those that died in the Civil War.
Honoring Our Armed Forces
While initially, Decoration Day was for honoring those killed in the Civil War, during World War I the scope of the day was expanded to honor all Americans killed in the line of duty.
In 1971, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday, and we have celebrated it every last Monday in May since then. Today, Americans recognize the day by visiting cemeteries, participating in parades and unofficially kicking off the summer.
Wherever you find yourself this Memorial Day, join us in participating in the Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. as one additional way to remember and honor the sacrifices of our Armed Forces that enable us to live with the freedoms and democracy that make our country what it is.
A Big Thank You to Our Clients
As we reflect this Memorial Day, we feel privileged to do the work that we do day in and day out. We’re filled with much gratitude for you, our clients, for making this possible and enabling us to be a productive part of this great country.
We’re proud and grateful that our Buric Heating and Air Conditioning family gets to work with you, and in this time of reflection, we just want to take a moment to thank you for the opportunity to do so.
Whether you count on us for your most serious emergency needs or routine maintenance, we couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. We hope you and your family have a wonderful Memorial Day this year. Amidst your celebrations, please take a moment to remember those that have served our country so that we never forget the great sacrifices that they have made.
