05/25/2026
Today, on Memorial Day, once known as Decoration Day — we pause to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this nation.
What many don’t realize is that the earliest Decoration Day observances were led by formerly enslaved Black Americans in Charleston in 1865. After the Civil War, Black residents decorated the graves of Union soldiers with flowers, sang hymns, and held a procession of remembrance and gratitude for those who died fighting for freedom.
That sacred act of memory became part of the foundation of what we now observe as Memorial Day.
As we gather with family and friends today, may we also remember the cost of liberty, the courage of those who served, and the generations who fought to ensure freedom would belong to all of us.
May we never forget their sacrifice. 🇺🇸
