Honoring those who served

Memorial Day was born out of our nation’s most fractured and pivotal moment: the Civil War.

Battered and worn after four years of internal strife, America nonetheless emerged intact in 1865, the dream of the Union preserved. The price of preserving our nation, our ideals, and our freedoms was approximately 620,000 American lives — nearly a quarter of a million more souls than our nation would give 80 years later to liberate Europe and defeat the Empire of Japan.

In the aftermath of such extreme loss, bereaved families everywhere mourned fathers and sons. To help the nation heal, and to memorialize our permanent triumph forged by their sacrifice, in 1868 Major General John A. Logan proclaimed a national observance of what Americans then called Decoration Day.

Ever since, as the death of winter gives way to spring’s renewed life, American families have cut flowers to decorate the graves of those held most dear, and to remember that without their loss, our country may not endure.

Declaring the observance of Decoration Day, Logan said:

“Let us then gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as a sacred charge upon a Nation's gratitude — the soldiers’ and sailors’ widow and orphan.”

The first large observance of the holiday occurred at Arlington National Cemetery, where over 200,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were buried. Then-Congressman James Garfield delivered a renowned speech honoring these thousands.

“For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue,” Garfield said.

A year after this observance, Nebraska was admitted to the Union. Even in its infancy, Nebraska observed Decoration Day as well. Our history books record a great parade in Omaha to honor fallen soldiers in the spring of 1888.

“The crowd was something wonderful,” a young student wrote to his family. “You would not think there was so many people in Nebraska let alone Omaha. I wouldn’t have missed it for any thing.”

The history of Memorial Day is enshrined today in our capitol building in Lincoln. The Memorial Chamber on the observation level of the building displays a plaque engraved with the words of the 1868 Memorial Day Proclamation — the same words declared by John A. Logan that year.

After World War I ended in 1918, the nation began honoring all our fallen soldiers on Decoration Day, not just those who died in the Civil War. And in 1971, Congress established the national holiday we observe now on the last Monday of May, calling it Memorial Day.

Nebraska has lost many servicemembers over the decades. During World War I, 355 Nebraskans lost their lives in combat. During World War II, almost 4,000 more fell. We lost 234 Nebraskans in the Korean War and 260 more in Vietnam. We lost 83 Nebraska sons and daughters in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Our fallen soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. But their families have made costly sacrifices as well. And while we ache for the parents, spouses, and children who have lost members of our military, our hearts also swell with pride and gratitude for those who protected our freedoms.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.