Memorial Day and How to Honor the Fallen

This year Memorial Day is on Monday, May 25, 2020. While Memorial Day weekend is often thought of as the unofficial kick-off of summer, the federal holiday is much more significant than that, and should be a day of remembrance honoring service members who have died in the line of duty.

Dating back to the 1860s, Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. In remembrance of soldiers who died in the Civil War, family members would decorate graves with flowers and prayers. As time passed, Decoration Day became known as Memorial Day, honoring all service members who die in the line of duty. In 1971 Memorial Day was recognized as a federal holiday, occurring on the last Monday of every May.

Memorial Day is an important day for Sandia Area. Our first branch opened in 1956, and was on Kirtland Air Force Base. The credit union was originally called Sandia Base Military Federal Credit Union. Though our name has changed, and we’ve expanded our membership, our core mission and values have always remained the same – providing relevant financial solutions that ensure stability and security for our members.

As an organization with close ties to Kirtland Air Force Base, we are honored to have a large membership of military men, women, and families, stationed all over the world. Sandia Area closes annually for the holiday, and we always honor those who have died in the line of duty for our country.

Wearing poppies as a symbol of remembrance originated from the powerful World War 1 poem, “In Flanders Field,” written by John McCrae.

This Memorial Day honor fallen U.S. soldiers, while social distancing. It’s an important day for our country and for those who are currently serving our country and our veterans.

Sources:

1. Maranzani, Barbara. “8 Things You May Not Know About Memorial Day.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 24 May 2013, www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-memorial-day?li_source=LI&li_medium=m2m-rcw-history.

2.  Pruitt, Sarah. “The WWI Origins of the Poppy as a Remembrance Symbol.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 25 May 2017, www.history.com/news/world-war-i-poppy-remembrance-symbol-veterans-day.