Memorial Day Link Drop

Memorial Day is fast approaching, so we wanted to share a few things ahead of the weekend.

• VA national cemeteries across the country will hold ceremonies over the long weekend. Check out this list for events in your area. You’ll also find contact information if you have questions about a particular event.
• “Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.” Read more about the history and evolution of Memorial Day.
• Last year I wrote about how the idea of Memorial Day changes if you lose a friend in battle. For some, Memorial Day bleeds across the calendar.
• For Memorial Day 2011, we put together a collection of photos from ceremonies across the country. And be sure to take a look at photos from Memorial Days passed.