What is Memorial Day and When Did it Start?

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Updated 3 years ago

What is Memorial Day and When Did it Start? It's a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May. The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States of America. It consists of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

Please read this report from the United States Census Bureau:
Census Bureau Releases New Report on Veterans

Stats of the US Military by Wikipedia:

Active personnel: 1,385,727 (ranked 3rd)

Available for military service: 17 million, age 18–25 (2016)

Apr 5, 2021 - U.S. Active Veterans: There are around 19 million U.S. veterans as of this year, according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, representing less than 10% of the total U.S. adult population.

Reserve personnel: 849,450

Deployed personnel: 165,000

Commander-in-Chief: President Joe Biden

Founded: June 14, 1775

The U.S. Armed Forces are considered the world's most powerful military. The military budget of the United States was US$693 billion in 2019, the highest in the world.

The Veteran's Administration also has a great description of the Memorial Day History <-- Click Here to Learn More.

Want some Memorial Day Trivia? Try Here.

And from Our American Legion. Please check out their website as well:

10 Things You Didn't Know About Memorial Day - Click Here

National Cemetery AdministrationNationwide Gravesite Locator

To search for burial locations of veterans, please Go Here

Memorial Day - Always Remember

I served in the US Navy for 7 years and 3 tours. I loved most of it and no one can say they loved all of it, nor why. It's great serving our country, and even more enjoyable when foreigners are thankful for our stay and the defense we give. PTSD, paranoias, schizophrenia, and it's true that we can get nervous at the drop of a pin. It's even more nerve-racking when after a 8 or 10 month tour, we come back to a family that no longer understands us (or in some cases, no longer wants us).

Our character has changed because of the environment we were exposed to. Some friends we served with never came back. Don't say "Hoo-wah" to some. If you are not military, especially do not say that word. It has meaning, a deep "family togetherness" meaning. When they lose someone they worked side by side with, it's best not to ask them about it. It's bad enough when one lives through the memories of what happened and CANNOT shake it. For those of you that say, "Put it behind you, ok?", please don't say that. I say all this not to be mean, but for awareness. Be understanding when a vet comes home. It was not a vacation. Our job is dark-30 and beyond. Some things we can't discuss, and as a spouse, I know you know not to push that issue. You may have gone through a living hell handling the kids all by yourself while he/she was gone, but a lot goes on with us too and we can't talk about it. Move Forward, that's our mindset.

Also, it doesn't help when we are in war zone, or an area considered too risky to send and receive mail, and now-a-days, emails, texts, or vid chats. Back in the 80's, we depended on mail being delivered by helicopter, ashore or underway. Sometimes we went a whole month without incoming or outgoing mail. It really damaged families. The military had the highest divorce rate imaginable because of just that.

These men and women fought hard for our country. In a lot of cases, giving their lives for it. My heart, prayers and understanding goes out to all of those effected by the loss of a loved one, and also to those still serving, with the extra prayer of remaining safe and staying vigilant.

Please share your stories below and please add a dose of prayer to the men and women out there serving as we speak.

God Bless,

Trent