Saturday, 25 May 2013 15:00
Last Updated on Saturday, 25 May 2013 16:19
Written by Judy McCloskey
Friends,
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, it is a day set apart for a grateful nation to remember and honor the lives sacrificed in time of national defense and war.
This weekend, visitors to Arlington’s 624 acre National Cemetery will see every grave marker appropriately ‘decorated’ with an American flag. Other veteran cemeteries will do likewise.
In December 2000, National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579 was passed by Congress and signed by then President George W. Bush. The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs notes:
The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”
Three o’clock is the hour of Divine Mercy, an hour of particular grace. To juxtapose the remembrance soldiers’ ultimate sacrifice with the death of our Lord is to prayerfully unite their sacrifice to that of Christ’s. It is a channel of authentic divine blessings upon the nation, its military, its families, its leadership.
What to remember on Memorial Day
+Pray for those who have died in service to their country.
+Pray for renewed strength and good courage for those who live with the memory of that loss.
+Pray that returning veterans “honor those we have lost by living up to the ideals they died defending. (Presidential Proclaimation, Memorial Day 2013)”
Blessings to you and your extended family this Memorial Day and always,
Judy McCloskey