The StickerTalk Observes Memorial Day

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., once stated, “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Honoring this theme, Americans annually dedicate Memorial Day to the memory our fallen soldiers. The tradition of Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, began in the years following the Civil War; General John A. Logan declared May 30 a day of remembrance and celebration of the sacrifices made by American soldiers. People flocked to cemeteries and monuments to decorate the eternal resting places of servicemen, offer prayers, and perpetuate the legacy left behind by those slain to protect our country. The observance of Memorial Day was changed to the last Monday in May when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect in 1971, officially establishing Memorial Day as a federal holiday. Although its date may have been altered, the guiding spirit behind Memorial Day remains constant. Parades, memorial services, and a host of additional activities occur across the nation on the final Monday in May as Americans pay homage to the brave men and women who laid down their lives for our multitude of freedoms.