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Americans are enjoying an extended holiday weekend thanks to Gen. John A. Logan who created Memorial Day, which has become the unofficial start of the summer season. It's a time to fire up the grills, open up the pools and gather family and friends for backyard barbecues.
But these summer kick-off activities aren't the real significance of the holiday; it's the men and women who served our nation and made the ultimate sacrifice who are the focal point of Memorial Day.
A song made popular by a country and western artist a couple of years ago asked the question, "Have you forgotten?" The question was in regard to our soldiers and veterans.
This Memorial Day weekend, many of us need to ask ourselves, "Have we forgotten?"
Simply put, Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day), is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.
Of course, it was Illinois' own Gen. John A. Logan, then national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, who first declared that a day of tribute to the fallen should be observed. That was back on May 30, 1868. Flowers were to be placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
The state of New York followed the general's example in 1873 and paid tribute to the fallen. But it wasn't until 1971 that Congress passed the National Holiday Act and formally decreed that Memorial Day would be observed each year on the last Monday of May.
Through the years our nation has witnessed numerous wars and suffered unfortunate casualties. World War I. World War II. The Korean War. The Vietnam War. There was the first Persian Gulf War and the second Gulf War which ultimately drove the brutal Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein from power.
Today, more than 130,000 soldiers from the United States are on duty in Iraq. They did not ask to be there, yet there they are. Our country has suffered tragic losses of life in Afghanistan taken in response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and even more tragic losses as a result of President Bush's flawed decision to 'liberate' the Iraqi people.
Here at home, many Americans are hotly debating whether our nation should have a military presence in Iraq, and rightly so. While it is entirely fair to question the motives of the politicians and bureaucrats who began this latest war, our full support should unquestionably be behind the men and women who proudly and honorably wear our nation's uniform both there and everywhere they serve across the face of the globe.
Here in America we enjoy a tremendous standard of living. We are the envy of the world. But we who enjoy the good life should never forget that the brave men and women, and most of all those who gave their lives in defense of this nation, are the ones who deserve the credit for our ability to do so.
Monday--- Memorial Day--- we pay homage to them, and it is both right and proper that we should do so.
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