To All Soldiers, Past, Present And Future

Hats off to those who served or are serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines and U.S. Army!

For anyone contemplating ways to observe the "memorial" part of Memorial Day in a more traditional manner, some ideas follow:

• visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
• visit memorials.
• fly the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
• fly the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well.
• participate in a "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for taps to be played.
• renew a pledge to aid widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid disabled veterans.
• watch rebroadcasts of The National Memorial Day Concert, which takes place on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The concert typically broadcasts on PBS and NPR. Jazz legend, B.B. King, who is 85 years old, performed in it this year. There was an especially touching, true story from a woman whose father died fighting in Vietnam.

Did you know the first known observance of Memorial Day was in Charleston, SC, in 1865?