We often tend to forget what

Memorial Day

is all about.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I, when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.

Memorial Day is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May, as passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays.

Scroll down and remember some of the major wars and conflicts.

Revolutionary War 1775-1783
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 4,435

The War of 1812  1812-1815
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 2,260

Mexican American War 1846-1848
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 13,283

U.S. Civil War 1861-1865
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 618,000-700,000

Spanish American War 1898
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 2,446

World War I 1917-1918
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 116,708

World War II 1941-1945
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 407,316

Korean War 1950-1953
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 53,686

Nearly 8,000 Americans are listed as MIA in Korea, and are not included in the death totals, although by now, they probably all should be considered dead.

Vietnam War 1964-1973
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 58,209

The numbers of Vietnam dead changes periodically as more remains are found in Sourheast Asia and are identified. Approximately 2,500 U.S. service personnel were iisted as MIA after the war.

Invasion of Grenada 1983
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 19

Invasion of Panama 1989
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 40

Persian Gulf War 1990-1991
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 382

Intervention in Bosnia & Herzegovina 1995-1996
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 12

Invasion of Afghanistan 2001
Estimated U.S.A. military deaths: 2,165

Invasion of Iraq 2003
Estimated U.S.A military deaths: 4,475

God Bless the United States of America
and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice!

A poem often read at Memorial Day services: