As we prepared for a three-day weekend and, for many, the thought of a COVID-free Memorial Day weekend, it’s important to remember what Memorial Day is all about.

Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday originated in the years following the Civil War to honor fallen officers who had served the country in the armed forces. For many years, Decoration Day/Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30, but in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees while declaring Memorial Day a federal holiday.

The long weekend is nice, as are barbecues and all of the opening weekend of summer activities that we’ve come to treasure. But it is important as a country to celebrate and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The ultimate sacrifice paid by so many in service to their country creates a shared sacrifice that binds a nation. Remembering that shared sacrifice can be a unifying factor at a time in our nation’s history where we have perhaps never been more divided.

The sacrifice of those who died in service for our country should be remembered, and that remembrance should be more than just a family get-together or a day in the park. At the very least, we should all take a moment to reflect upon those who died in service and explain what the day means to our children. Celebrating the real reason for Memorial Day is a tradition worth carrying on.