Memorial Day Weekend

While we're out enjoying the weekend, I thought it would be best to remember why we call it Memorial Day weekend--a time to honor those who have sacrificed their lives in order to preserve our country and the freedoms we enjoy.  The "celebration" started yesterday with the placing of the flags at Arlington National Cemetery--and in cemeteries around the nation.  The flags are placed in a specific way called "flags in", and I think it mete that I quote the tradition from the ANC's own website here:

"Flags In"

Each year for the past 40 years, the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) has honored America's fallen heroes by placing American flags before the gravestones and niches of service members buried at both Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldier's and Airmen's Home National Cemetery just prior to Memorial Day weekend.

This tradition, known as "flags in," has been conducted annually since The Old Guard was designated as the Army's official ceremonial unit in 1948. Every available soldier in the 3rd U.S. Infantry participates, placing small American flags one foot in front and centered before each grave marker.

During an approximately three-hour period, the soldiers place flags in front of more than 260,000 gravestones and about 7,300 niches at the cemetery's columbarium. Another 13,500 flags are placed at the Soldier's and Airmen's Cemetery. As part of this yearly memorial activity, Old Guard soldiers remain in the cemetery throughout the weekend, ensuring that a flag remains at each gravestone.

American flags are also placed at the graves of each of the four unknown service men interred at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, by the Tomb Sentinels. All flags are removed after Memorial Day before each cemetery is opened to the public.

So this weekend, please don't forget those who gave their lives for this country.  Honor them, and remember them; for, they have died for this place we call home.