In Memory Of……

…. this is what the Memorial Day holiday is all about. It’s to remember the fallen so that their legacy and spirit lives on amongst those of us that returned home. After all, if you remember your fallen comrades and spread the news about their lives to create their legacy, then in a sense they live on.

Not only does a memorial to our fallen buddies keep them alive in spirit, but the therapeutic benefits are well documented. Telling a story about the life of a fallen comrade brings some element of peace to our hearts where otherwise there is sorrow.

On the eve of this somber Holiday weekend, I am pleased to pre-announce a new feature that Focus Marines is adding to our FMF web site. We will soon implement a PRIVATE FOCUS graduate page on the website. One of the primary functions of this PRIVATE page for invited members only will be an “In Memory Of…” blog. All of our postings from the Focus Forum will be ported over to the private FOCUS graduate page, and we encourage all our graduates to add more stories.

This is a great weekend to sit down at your computer and write a story about those fallen that you remember. Create their legacy and share with your FOCUS brethren. In a few weeks the new page will be in production and everyone in this group will receive an invitation to join the private FOCUS graduate FMF web page. You can then post your stories for only those within the FOCUS family to see.

S/F

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America, was declared a national holiday in 1971, and placed on the last Monday of May. 

This symbolic day was borne out of the Civil War and is recognized as a Federal Holiday. It was officially proclaimed on May 5th, 1868 by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.  On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

This is NOT Veteran’s Day, and it’s NOT a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.

In 2000, Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law, “The National Moment of Remembrance Act” to encourage people of the U.S. to give something back to their country which provides them with so much freedom and opportunity.”  This national remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3:00 local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.