Memorial Day originated during the Civil War when some southern women chose May 30th to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers, honoring both the Union and Confederate armies. A National Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868 by the declaration of General John Alexander Logan, President of the Grand Army of the Republic, for the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead.  A war that took over 364,000 lives.

Today, in our nation's capitol the VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL bears the names of nearly 50,000 Americans who died in that conflict more than 30 years ago (1965-1975).  Other lists include over 320,000 who lost their lives during WW1; over 405,000 in WW11; 37,000 in the Korean War; 162 in the Gulf War and in the Iraqi War over 3,560.

"So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance"  (Exodus 12:14).