Hello my fellow Whyvillians,

I am sitting here writing this article with the happy knowledge that I have no classes tomorrow. Those of you who are fellow Americans know why this is . . . it is because tomorrow is Memorial Day.

Most of us know that Memorial Day comes around in May, and that we get a day off of school of work because of it. But, how many of us actually know what it is about and why we celebrate it in the first place?

Memorial Day is always the last Monday in May and is the day the government has sanctioned when we are to honor the men and women who have died fighting in the US Armed Forces. It was formally known as Decoration Day and dates all the way back to the American Civil War. The Indy 500 is a fun and exciting tradition that is held in conjunction with the holiday.

Memorial Day is especially significant for families who have had someone die in battle or have known someone who served. My grandfather fought in World War I, and on this day, I always think of him. I think of how much he sacrificed to fight for freedom and liberty, two things that I take for granted on a regular basis. I think of the struggle he went through, and the men whom he loved that he saw die. I remember him so I can honor him, and every other person who has served their country as he did.

I encourage you to spend this Memorial Day doing something that these brave men and women have fought to protect. Go to the beach, go on a hike, join a philanthropic cause, or even lead a protest. The best way to honor our soldiers is to continue living in the way that they so graciously kept safe. But mainly, I encourage you to just remember.

In Whyville love,
AMae