Gordon Forgey

Memorial Day weekend will be studded with ceremonies, parades and memorials. It is an important national holiday and an old American tradition.

The inspiration to create a day to commemorate those killed in the service of their country began to spread state by state after the Civil War.

At first, it was called Decoration Day, due to the practice of decorating grave sites and memorials.

The day was dedicated to war dead, but now it is more than just honoring our nation’s soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Gradually, the commemoration broadened to become the time to remember all those who went before us.

We remember those who were treasured influences in our lives. We commemorate family, history and heritage.

The holiday can be heartwarming and melancholy at the same time.

This year the nation has some others to remember: The many children killed at Sandyhook Elementary by a deranged gunman. The victims of Hurricane Sandy. The victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and the Texas plant explosion. And, most recently, those killed by the tornadoes that hit Moore, OK, and other parts of the midwest.

On its face, Memorial Day is a time to look back and remember.

It can also be a time to look forward and celebrate those still with us. Memorial Day can remind us how precious they are.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher