Memorial Day 2014

Most of us are happy for a 3 day weekend but there are other, more important reasons why we should celebrate Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It began about 3 years after the Civil War and in 1971 it became an official federal holiday.

U.S. War Casualties:
Civil War – Approximately 620,000 Americans died. The Union lost almost 365,000 troops and the Confederacy about 260,000. More than half of these deaths were caused by disease.
World War I – 116,516 Americans died, more than half from disease.
World War II – 405,399 Americans died.
Korean War – 36,574 Americans died.
Vietnam Conflict – 58,220 Americans died. More than 47,000 Americans were killed in action and nearly 11,000 died of other causes.
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm – 148 U.S. battle deaths and 145 non-battle deaths.
Operation Iraqi Freedom – 4,422 U.S. service members died.
Operation New Dawn – 66 U.S. service members died.
Operation Enduring Freedom – 2,318 U.S. service members have died as of May 12, 2014.

Memorial Day weekend getaways have become an American tradition. According to theAmerican Automobile Association, more than 36 million people will hit the roads this holiday weekend and drive more than 50 miles (80 kilometers). Grilling may not have been part of the original Memorial Day celebrations, but it’s now a fixture of the holiday. Memorial Day is now the second-most popular holiday (after the Fourth of July) for a sun-baked barbecue: 53 percent of people grill on the holiday, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association.

I hope your plans for the weekend include getting to see your grandchildren, but whatever your plans are, do take time to remember and honor those who died for our freedom.   FYI-There’s a tee-shirt giveaway contest going on at our NanaHood Facebook page until Monday and then beginning on Monday, all tee-shirts will go on sale! Stop by and visit!