This Memorial Day Remembers Our Fallen Heroes

王致智

Memorial Day， a Federal US holiday that is observed each year on the last Monday of May means different things to different people. For some its a reminder to carry out summer vacation plans， for others its an excuse to lounge （懒洋洋地躺） around the pool with friends. Then there are the shoppers who believe the day is all about hitting the malls for bargains. 1. What often gets forgotten is the real purpose of the holiday—to honor and remember the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces that gave up their lives to defend our right to freedom.

The holiday was first observed on May 30th， 1868 by General Logan. The National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic believed it would be a good way to unite the country. He called it Decoration Day and celebrated it by visiting the Arlington National Cemetery and placing flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate （联邦政府与南方联盟） soldiers.

2. Memorial Day was made as an official national holiday in 1971. To allow Americans to enjoy a three-day weekend， the date was moved from May 30th to the last Monday of May. This gave owners of small shops a new chance to attract customers， leading to the tradition of Memorial Day Sales. Also， thanks to its being close to the US summer vacation， kids started to think of the day as the “beginning of summer” or the “first day when swimming pools open”. Adults were no better. 3. 他们把它看作是举行烧烤派对（host barbecues）的机会。

As a result， the real meaning of the holiday started to disappear. Concerned that people would forget it altogether， in December 2000， former US President Bill Clinton signed the “The National Moment of Remembrance Act”. 4. 法律要求所有美国人下午三点默哀一分钟（local time） to honor the heroes that have given up their lives for the safety and freedom of the country.

So this Memorial Day， be sure to stop whatever you are doing at 3：00 p.m. and take a minute or two to thank the brave men and women who are no longer around to enjoy the day with their families.

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