It’s considered by most people to be the traditional beginning of summer. It‘s often marked with community parades, backyard barbecues, the Indy 500, and solemn remembrances in cemeteries.
It is Memorial Day, a day in which we as a nation take time to pause, reflect, and remember those who gave their lives so that we may enjoy the bounties of freedom.
Originally called Decoration Day, its exact origins are unclear except for one undeniable fact—it was borne from the Civil War with the purpose of remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
This day of remembrance was officially proclaimed in May of 1868 by General John Logan “for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.”
The very act of remembering those who have passed on is something innate to the human condition. We want to remember the people we love, and we ourselves want to be remembered. It’s one of the reasons why a place like Forest Lawn even exists.
This Memorial Day, we invite you, your friends and your family to attend one of our programs to honor the 1.8 million brave men and women who since 1775 gave their lives for our nation. For one hundred years, Forest Lawn has marked the occasion by inviting the community to join us at our Memorial Day ceremonies which feature traditional wreath placements, thoughtful guest speakers, patriotic music, and refreshments.
If you can’t attend, we invite you to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance. Established by Congress in 2000, it asks that on Memorial Day at 3 pm local time, all Americans voluntarily and informally pause from whatever they’re doing to reflect in their own way on those sacrifices made on our behalf.
If you’d like to join us at one of our Memorial Day Ceremonies, please click on the link for more information on times and locations. However you choose to observe Memorial Day, we hope you find the day meaningful.