Page 2 - Desert Lightning 5-22-15

2 May 21, 2015 Desert Lightning News

This Memorial Day, honor those who gave all

NEWS Aerotech News and Review staff the name slowly transformed from Deco- Most of the country, when observing
ration Day to Memorial Day, and in 1971, Memorial Day, are honoring the sacrifices
Memorial Day. A long weekend, bar- it was finally declared a federal holiday. made by Airmen, Soldiers, Marines, and
beques, parades, door busting sales at It’s observed annually on the last Mon- Seamen they’ve never met. But unfortu-
the mall, and the un-official start of day of May. nately, every year, the number of people
summer . . . observing Memorial Day to honor a fam-
Memorial Day is not the same as Vet- ily member who died while serving in
With all the excitement of warmer erans’ Day and is often confused with it. one of the current conflicts grows. It’s
weather and fun in the sun that come with The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor important on Memorial Day, the families
Memorial Day, the true meaning of the American warfighters who perished while of those killed while in battle are also re-
day is often over looked. Memorial Day is at war, whereas Veterans’ Day is to cele- membered, and their loss of not only their
about remembering the ultimate sacrifice brate all American’s who have served in family member recognized, but also their
of our fallen servicemembers. the military. way of life. These families are known as
Gold Star Families.
It’s about the men and women who There are several ways to observe Me-
left their families, their loves ones, their morial Day and honor those who gave When a family losses a mother, father,
homes, and died defending our freedoms their lives defending our freedom. The wife, or husband due to war, it can be
and way of life. most common is to decorate the graves devastating psychologically, physically,
of fallen servicemembers with flowers or and financially. Aside from the disabled
Memorial Day was originally recog- small American Flags. Other ways to ob- veterans, no living person in this country
nized as Decoration Day and was estab- serve Memorial Day, as suggested by the has given more to benefit the nation than
lished soon after the conclusion of the Memorial Day Foundation are to: the families of those killed while serving
Civil War. According to the Veteran’s in the armed forces.
Administration, one of the first occur- Wear a Memorial Day Button from the
rences of Decoration Day took place first of May until Memorial Day. This year, during the long Memorial
in Mississippi in 1866 when a group of Day weekend, take a moment and re-
women visited a cemetery to decorate Visit cemeteries and placing flags or member. Remember those Americans
the graves of Confederate soldiers who flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes. killed in battle this year, last year, and
had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby even those killed more than 200 years
were the graves of Union soldiers, ne- Fly the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon. Me- ago in the Civil War. Think about their
glected because they were the enemy. morial Day is a day of “National Mourning.” families, their mothers, fathers, spouses
Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, and children. Be empathetic to their loss.
the women placed some of their flowers Attend a religious service of your choice. Celebrate the lives of those who gave all
on those graves, as well. Initially, Deco- Visit a war memorial. and honor their sacrifice. If you attend a
ration Day was created to pay tribute to Participate in a “National Moment barbeque, do so knowing the relevance
those fallen in the Civil War, but after the of Remembrance” at 3 p.m. local time, of the day.
First World War, the day was expanded to pause and think upon the meaning
to include all American servicemembers of the day and for taps to be played
who died at war. Throughout the years where possible.
Renew a pledge to aid the widows, and
orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the
disabled veterans.

Memorial Day weekend safety tips

Senior Airman Sivan Veazie

355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Memorial Day weekend is coming up, for most ser- (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Drzazgowski)
vice members that means getting on the road and trav-
eling for the first long weekend of the summer. During Chief Master Sgt. Brian Morgan wishes departing Airmen and their family members a happy
this holiday weekend more people will be traveling, Memorial Day weekend at the Craycroft Gate at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
which makes it important to drive safely. So here are
some safety tips to help you and your families have a
safe weekend.

· Ensure before you get on the road that you are well
rested and alert

· Use your seat belts properly
· Observe the speed limits and road conditions
· If you are planning on drinking, drink responsibly
· Have a plan before you go out and execute that plan
· If you are drinking please remember to don’t drink
and drive, get a designated driver
Have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend.