Scott's View: The Meaning of Memorial Day 2021

With Memorial Day next weekend, we all experience the temptation to go out, celebrate and enjoy our lives again. We’ve earned it, after 15 months of sacrifice, fear and uncertainty. And yet, at the same time, we must remember the true meaning of this “holiday”, the recognition of the hundreds of thousands of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, to preserve our liberties.

It’s been eighty years since the start of World War II, over 70 years since hostilities began in Korea, over 50 years since Vietnam’s first shots, 30 years since Operation Desert Storm, and 20 years since the 9/11 attacks on this nation. For all these reasons, on this Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who perished over the last century in service to our county and those brave men and women who serve today.

As General Bell reminds us in today’s Cover story, this holiday is and should  be celebrated as a solemn day. He writes about the cemeteries overseas,  created and maintained by the U.S. Government, where 160,000 American service members are buried in 10 countries. 

Let's also remember Monday, May 31, as a time to pause for the National Moment of Remembrance, enacted by presidential proclamation 21 years ago. 

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. Please do your part and remember to join in this particular moment to remember those we have lost.