Memorial Day - A Day of Remembrance and Not a Time to Celebrate the Start of Summer

Memorial Day used to be a solemn day of mourning, a sacred day of remembrance to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were given and prayers offered up. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and flags the graves of those the fell in service to their country.

However, over the years the original meaning and spirit of Memorial Day has faded from the public consciousness. On 17 of March 1989 Senator Inouye [HI] introduced a bill to the Senate which called for the restoration of the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th. Every new Congress since then (every two years), Mr. Inouye has faithfully re-introduced the bill. Several times a companion bill was introduced to the House.

Do you think Memorial Day should have its traditional day of observance restored? If so, should Armed Forces Day (presently the third Saturday of May) be converted to a 3-day weekend holiday in its place? Vote in our poll here. And if you do agree that Memorial Day should have its traditional day of observance restored, please take a moment to sign the petition that will be delivered to Congress, and invite your friends and family to do the same.  Read more . .  .