Photo: Alamy
Memorial Day is a longstanding holiday commemorating the sacrifice of those who have fallen in battle in defense of their country. Last weekend, President Donald Trump shared a heartfelt message in honor of the memory of those U.S. service members.
He wrote on Truth Social, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.”
The president also reshared his own words highlighting the sacrifice of American servicemen and women, noting, “We can never replace them. We can never repay them. But we can always remember. Today, that is what we are doing – we remember.”
Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day,” but the name was changed to “Memorial Day” in 1868 following an order implemented by Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan.
Memorial Day sprung up after the devastation of the Civil War in America led communities from across the nation to find a way to commemorate their loved ones who had died in the bloody conflict.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Memorial Day’s late May date was chosen because of the springtime season, which lent itself handily to decorating the gravesites of fallen soldiers with “the choicest flowers of springtime.”
In 2020, President Trump delivered a Memorial Day speech at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, where Francis Scott Key famously penned the “Star Spangled Banner.”
He declared, “Every time we hear it, we think of our warriors on distant battlefields who keep us safe at home. We remember the young Americans who never got the chance to grow old, whose legacies will outlive us all.”
The president added, “In every generation, these intrepid souls kissed goodbye their families and loved ones. They took flight in planes, took sail in ships and marched into battle with our flag, fighting for our country, defending our people.”
