Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who have fallen and were wounded in battle.
It’s a time to come together as a nation, reflect on the sacrifices made by the military members, and express our gratitude for their service.
That said…I want to take a moment to remember all American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country on the Memorial Day!
Also, those killed in action will forever be remembered as selfless warriors who put their country before themselves.
There are some killed in action but were never identified, such as…
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: A Symbol of Sacrifice
In 1920, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was established at Arlington National Cemetery. The tomb was created to honor the soldiers who had fought in World War I and lost their lives.
The remains of an unidentified soldier from the war were brought to the cemetery and buried there. Since then, the tomb has been a symbol of the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served in the military.
Memorial Day A Symbol of Sacrifice!
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located in Arlington National Cemetery, is a monument dedicated to the service members who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.”
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier symbolizes the sacrifice made by every service member who has given their life for their country. It reminds us that we must never forget the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Before the 20th century
The numerous wars which have occurred over the centuries have created many MIAs. The list is long and includes most battles that any nation has ever fought.
The usual problems of identification caused by rapid decomposition were exacerbated by the fact that it was common practice to loot the remains of the dead for any valuables, e.g., personal items and clothing.
This made the already difficult task of identification even harder. The dead were routinely buried in mass graves, and scant official records were retained.
Notable examples include such medieval battles as Towton,[16] the Hundred Years’ War, The Battle of Alcácer Quibir where King Sebastian of Portugal disappeared, the later English Civil Wars, and Napoleonic Wars[17][18] together with any battle taking place until around the middle of the 19th century.
Starting around the time of the Crimean War, American Civil War, and Franco-Prussian War, it became more common to make formal efforts to identify individual soldiers.
However, since there was no formal system of ID tags at the time, this could be difficult during battlefield clearance.
There had been a notable shift in perceptions, e.g., where the remains of a soldier in Confederate uniform were recovered from the Gettysburg battlefield.
He would be interred in a single grave with a headstone that stated that he was an unknown Confederate soldier. This change in attitudes coincided with the Geneva Conventions, the first of which was signed in 1864.
Although the First Geneva Convention did not specifically address the issue of MIAs, the reasoning behind it (which specified the humane treatment of wounded enemy soldiers) was influential.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2838652/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-had-its-origins-in-world-war-i/
Little known History Facts…
On Sept. 29, 1921, the War Department ordered the selection of an unknown soldier from those buried in France.
The U.S. Quartermaster Corps conducted the selection process by cooperating with the French and U.S. Navy.
Three weeks later, a Quartermaster Corps team excavated four bodies of (UNIDENTIFIED) Americans from each of four American cemeteries in France:
- Aisne-Maine,
- Meuse-Argonne,
- Somme,
- and St. Mihiel.
“Each man was examined to ensure that he was indeed an American. ”
For example, an elaborate proceeding ensured that the soldiers selected would become truly anonymous soldiers, representing all the many other unknown soldiers who had previously been lost in battle.
And the reason for following the process used by all of the allies, was out of respect for those lost in war.
Likewise, the caskets arrived by truck at the city hall of Chalons-sur-Marne on Oct. 23, 1921, and presented to the French by local honor guard.
Not only…but also, Army Sgt. Edward F. Younger of Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 50th Infantry, American Forces in Germany was given the honors of selecting the soldier on Oct. 26, 1921.
He walked around the caskets and then selected one.
What is more Sgt. Younger was seriously wounded in battle. And He received the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery.
Conclusion
Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who have died in service to our country. It’s also a time for reflection on patriotism and what it means to be an American.
As we celebrate this Memorial Day, let us also remember the sacrifices made by our military families. Thank you… to all who have served and continue to serve our country. I’m eternally grateful for your bravery and selflessness.
I’m the Spouse of a retired Military Man and sister of three brother that served this country.
I’ve been around the military my entire life. It’s always been a part of who I am, and it’s something that I love. Even though my husband is retired now, the military is still a huge part of our lives.
Thanks for reading
Essie C.
https://jusmeetwo.com/how-to-celebrate-veterans-day/
Sources
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2838652/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-had-its-origins-in-world-war-i/
https://soldiersangels.org/get-support/wounded-support/
http://www.ourfallenheroes.org
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/programs/fallen-heroes/
https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/103825/the-veterans-crisis-line-is-here-for-you/
https://openarmsalways.org/wall_of_heroes.htm