I’m State Senator Joan Ballweg.
Memorial Day was originally founded as America was breathing the last gasps of the Civil War. As the death toll reached a jarring number of over 600,000 people, mothers and families grieved the loss of their loved ones. In this grieving process, mourning families laid wreaths and flowers on their loved ones graves. This informal tradition, known as Decorating Day, became the federal holiday we now know as Memorial Day.
It’s no secret that the traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions, and instead treat this day of remembrance as a long weekend or the kick-off to summer.
I hope everyone is able to take pause this weekend, honor our fallen neighbors and give thought to their families, friends and those who love them. We cannot measure the depth of their loss or comprehend the true measure of their sorrow.
In the 14th Senate District, this Memorial Day is extra special after being able to identify four sailors from the USS Oklahoma who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor. To Keefe Connolly interred in Markesan, Malcom, LeRoy and Randolph Barber, who returned the soil of New London, and the countless others who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom; gone, but not forgotten.
