Let's Not Forget What Memorial Day Is Really About ????

BBQ's. Beginning of summer. Family Gatherings. Honoring our military. These are just a few things that come to mind when we think of Memorial Day.

Although it's healthy and normal to evolve, and sometimes in our best interest due to some of the emotional events attached to certain memories, every now and then, it's important to revisit those historical events to keep things in perspective.

We must also never forget to honor those who legacies we choose to preserve. Not just on those days that we observe, but in the lives we live.

When Charleston fell and Confederate troops evacuated the badly damaged city, those freed from enslavement remained. One of the first things those emancipated men and women did was to give the fallen Union prisoners a proper burial. They exhumed the mass grave and reinterred the bodies in a new cemetery with a tall whitewashed fence inscribed with the words: “Martyrs of the Race Course." https://www.history.com/news/memorial-day-civil-war-slavery-charleston

Memorial Day was once called Decoration Day, a tradition that started May 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC, a crowd of 10,000 people, mostly freed slaves with some white missionaries, staged a parade around the race track. Three thousand Black schoolchildren carried bouquets of flowers and sang “John Brown’s Body.” Members of the famed 54th Massachusetts and other Black Union regiments were in attendance and performed double-time marches. Black ministers recited verses from the Bible.

A few years ago, I spent some time with the Montford Point Marine Association at the Chicago Chapter #2 Veterans Center. A modest establishment, but the sentiment was genuine. Hopefully, they're doing the best to maintain reasonably healthy existence after the public health emergency and have received the resources necessary for them to do so.

Looking forward to see how things are coming along with their meeting place, and hearing more about their experiences and funny stories.

The #VeteransCrisisLine serves Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. Call 988 (press 1) for 24/7 support.

Happy Memorial Day! ????