Memorial Day, a day of profound significance, deserves our participation and active engagement. It is a day to come together as a community and honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 

During the 2024 Memorial Day ceremony at the Alamosa Cemetery, Monte Collins, Commander of the Alamosa American Legion, read part of what Charles M Province wrote, "It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."  

As a reporter, those words about the soldier giving us the freedom of the press resonate. I reflect on my father, who was drafted in June 1945, just as the Germans had surrendered. He served stateside as the troops from Europe began coming home. His brother, my uncle, served on transport ships between England and Normandy during the D Day allied invasion, shuttling across the English Channel and Normandy, bringing American, Canadian, and British troops to the beaches of France to fight the Nazis. Another uncle served in the Pacific with the U.S. Navy repatriating Japanese nationals in Manchuria to their homeland. Another uncle served in the United States Marine Corps Band and played at the White House for Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. While they all survived the war, I always think of their service on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. These personal connections to our collective history and the sacrifices made by our loved ones make Memorial Day a deeply personal and emotional day for many of us.  

I have always been inspired by one of my favorite reporters, Walter Cronkite, who said, "Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy; it is democracy." Thanks to the many soldiers who have served and fought, especially those who died in service to our nation and our many freedoms.   

Memorial Day, with its origins in the post-Civil War period, carries profound historical significance. Established as Decoration Day by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), it was a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead. Today, we solemnly recognize this historic occasion as Memorial Day. 

Before an 1868 gathering of about 5,000 people at Arlington National Cemetery, James A. Garfield honored Veterans with these words, "For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism, and their virtue." This gathering was a significant event in establishing Memorial Day as a national holiday. 

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., as the "birthplace," of Memorial Day. At the time, Johnson said, "On this Memorial Day, as we honor the memory of brave men who have borne our colors in war, we pray to God for his mercy. We pray for the wisdom to find a way to end this struggle of nation against nation, of brother against brother. We pray that soon we may begin to build the only true memorial to man's valor in war, a sane and hopeful environment for the generations to come." 

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday. In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act, calling upon the American people to truly reflect on the ultimate sacrifice for which our heroes in uniform have given to preserve freedom and liberty for generations to come. Specifically, the law encourages Americans to pause in silence at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. This act – giving one minute of collective silence – to honor fallen service members is a simple yet meaningful way to stand in solidarity with our fellow citizens, the fallen heroes, and the loved ones they left behind. As the legislation says, "The relevance of Memorial Day must be made more apparent to present and future generations of people of the United States through local and national observances and ongoing activities." 

The American Legion, a key player in Memorial Day observances, has honored this day since 1868. Chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919, it is the nation's largest wartime Veterans service organization. The Legion is committed to mentoring youth, sponsoring wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and Veterans. Please join the Legion and other groups on Sunday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m. to place flags on graves at the Alamosa Cemetery. On Monday, May 26, there will be a Memorial Service at the cemetery at 10:00 a.m. v 

Memorial Day services, including Alamosa, Creede, and the Veterans Community Living Center at Homelake, will be held across the Valley. As a member of our community, I encourage you to join these services and pay your respects to our fallen heroes. It is our duty and honor to remember and honor those who have given their lives for our freedom.