Memorial Day: For those who gave it all

Memorial Day honors those who died in service to the United States.

As the federal holiday fast approaches, VFW Post 2453 post commander Ken Hunt wants the county’s residents to realize the difference between Monday’s holiday and November’s Veterans Day, including how veterans should be interacted with on those two days.

While Memorial Day honors military members who died while serving their country, Veterans Day honors those who have served in the military and are still alive.

Hunt said when he is with fellow veterans, he explains that both days are set aside for military members, but for different reasons.

“Both days are set aside as a way to honor those military service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice for all of our freedoms which we currently enjoy,” he said. “But Memorial Day specifically is the moment when we remember those veterans who served and are no longer with us. On this day, we go to their places of rest and decorate that hallowed ground in an effort to honor what they did for our country.”

Veterans Day, he continued, is a little different, because although the country still takes the time to remember absent loved ones, veterans also use that day to celebrate each other and say thank one another for what they did.

“Remember how important it is to thank these veterans before they are gone,” Hunt said. “We generally do this with a party, whereas on Memorial Day, we remember more somberly with ceremony and reflection.”

This Memorial Day, there will be a Memorial service at Pinecrest Cemetery starting at 9 a.m. This Memorial service will be followed by a second service at Lakeview Cemetery at 11 a.m. A third short Veterans Memorial service will also take place at the VFW Hall starting at 12:30 p.m.

The Sandpoint VFW will also host a brunch beginning at 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Memorial Day. The brunch is open to the general public and is free at the VFW Post, located on the corner of Pine Street and Division Avenue.

Memorial Day was first celebrated as Decoration Day in 1868, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This day was honored by decorating the graves of the military members who had passed. It is believed that Major General John Logan declared the holiday should be observed on May 30 because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

It is unclear exactly when the “modern” Memorial Day began, or where, as over 25 places claim the distinction of holding the first Memorial Day service.

According to Veterans Affairs, President Bill Clinton and Congress passed and signed “The National Moment of Remembrance Act” in December 2000. 

“The commission’s charter is to ‘encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity’ by coordinating commemorations in the United States [for] Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance,” Veterans Affairs staff said.

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause no matter where they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, and participate in a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.