What is Memorial Day? Featured
WHAT IS MEMORIAL DAY?
I always have trouble keeping straight the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Both days represent a patriotic honoring of those who serve our nation’s military. Both days are great for waving flags and finding decent deals on furniture. I wanted some clarity on what Memorial Day actually is, and I learned that it is a holiday that specifically “honors men and women who died serving in the U.S. military.” There’s also a “national moment of remembrance at 3:00pm local time” on Memorial Day.
As I continued thinking about Memorial Day, I began to get curious about some of the sacrifices made in battle. We have all seen dramatic displays of courage and valor on the big screen in films like Saving Private Ryan or Fury, but what about the men and women who haven’t been acknowledged in film?
It turns out, there’s a great place to go to read accounts of soldiers who went above and beyond the call of duty. Here is the account of a soldier that sounds like it was ripped straight out of a blockbuster movie script.
*MAGRATH, JOHN D.
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when his company was pinned down by heavy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, near Castel d'Aiano, Italy. Volunteering to act as a scout, armed with only a rifle, he charged headlong into withering fire, killing 2 Germans and wounding 3 in order to capture a machinegun. Carrying this enemy weapon across an open field through heavy fire, he neutralized 2 more machinegun nests; he then circled behind 4 other Germans, killing them with a burst as they were firing on his company. Spotting another dangerous enemy position to this right, he knelt with the machinegun in his arms and exchanged fire with the Germans until he had killed 2 and wounded 3. The enemy now poured increased mortar and artillery fire on the company's newly won position. Pfc. Magrath fearlessly volunteered again to brave the shelling in order to collect a report of casualties. Heroically carrying out this task, he made the supreme sacrifice--a climax to the valor and courage that are in keeping with highest traditions of the military service.
You can read more stories of bravery and heroism at http://www.history.army.mil/moh/index.html.
My hope is that this Memorial Day will be a fresh reminder that there are men and women who put our citizens first – ahead of their own interests and safety.
God bless and have a safe and exciting Memorial Day weekend!
WHAT IS MEMORIAL DAY?
I always have trouble keeping straight the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Both days represent a patriotic honoring of those who serve our nation’s military. Both days are great for waving flags and finding decent deals on furniture. I wanted some clarity on what Memorial Day actually is, and I learned that it is a holiday that specifically “honors men and women who died serving in the U.S. military.” There’s also a “national moment of remembrance at 3:00pm local time” on Memorial Day.
As I continued thinking about Memorial Day, I began to get curious about some of the sacrifices made in battle. We have all seen dramatic displays of courage and valor on the big screen in films like Saving Private Ryan or Fury, but what about the men and women who haven’t been acknowledged in film?
It turns out, there’s a great place to go to read accounts of soldiers who went above and beyond the call of duty. Here is the account of a soldier that sounds like it was ripped straight out of a blockbuster movie script.
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*MAGRATH, JOHN D.
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when his company was pinned down by heavy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, near Castel d'Aiano, Italy. Volunteering to act as a scout, armed with only a rifle, he charged headlong into withering fire, killing 2 Germans and wounding 3 in order to capture a machinegun. Carrying this enemy weapon across an open field through heavy fire, he neutralized 2 more machinegun nests; he then circled behind 4 other Germans, killing them with a burst as they were firing on his company. Spotting another dangerous enemy position to this right, he knelt with the machinegun in his arms and exchanged fire with the Germans until he had killed 2 and wounded 3. The enemy now poured increased mortar and artillery fire on the company's newly won position. Pfc. Magrath fearlessly volunteered again to brave the shelling in order to collect a report of casualties. Heroically carrying out this task, he made the supreme sacrifice--a climax to the valor and courage that are in keeping with highest traditions of the military service.
You can read more stories of bravery and heroism at http://www.history.army.mil/moh/index.html.
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My hope is that this Memorial Day will be a fresh reminder that there are men and women who put our citizens first – ahead of their own interests and safety. God bless and have a safe and exciting Memorial Day weekend!
