Addy Observes Memorial Day

Today Addy helped me observe Memorial Day. The origins of Memorial Day go back to Addy’s time, when people decorated the graves of soldiers killed in the Civil War. Before it was called Memorial Day, it was called Decoration Day.

Many sources estimate the number of soldiers killed in the Civil War to be around 620,000, so it is not hard to imagine that thousands of heartbroken families might have found at least a little comfort in placing flowers on their son or father or husband’s grave.

In Addy’s stories one of her greatest fears was that her brother Sam, who dreamed of joining the Union Army, would be killed in battle. When she is reunited with him and finds that he lost an arm in battle she is sad, but he tells her not to cry. He is proud to have made that sacrifice.

Freedom is not possible without sacrifice. Thank you, brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

I hope you had a thoughtful and reflective Memorial Day!