Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer in a lot of the country. Even in places like where I live, where we’ve had 90-degree days periodically throughout the month of May, Memorial Day is when it starts to get summer-like and is generally considered the last decent day for barbecues, being outdoors, and hanging out with friends and family until Labor Day. Enjoy yourselves today, because that’s what I’m going to do.
But let’s not forget what Memorial Day is all about. It’s not about food and fellowship, it’s about honoring the memory of the soldiers who have fought and died throughout the world to ensure freedom and to preserve peace. It was originally founded to preserve the memory of Union soldiers who died in the American Civil War, and has since been expanded to cover all US soldiers who have fallen in all our wars.
If you see a member of the military out and about today, be sure you thank them for what they’re doing for this country, and for the world at large. Have a healthy and happy Memorial Day, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow for more weird, fun stories culled from the depths of the Internet.
Tags: Memorial Day, holidays, celebrations, history of Memorial Day, in memory of fallen soldiers, Arlington National Cemetery, veterans