Remember & Honor

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Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy, forget in time that men have died to win them.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

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Today is one of those solemn holidays when we should each pause for a moment and remember and honor all of the service members and veterans who died while in service to the United States during peace and war. 

While springtime tributes known as Decoration Day for fallen military began not long after the Civil War, Memorial Day did not become an official federal holiday until 1971. 

National Moment of Remembrance
Many people are not aware that in 2000, a resolution was passed and President Bill Clinton issued the National Moment of Remembrance memorandum which asks that at 3 PM local time, for all Americans "to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all"—something more of us should do in these volatile political times and when so many are positing views so antithetical to our fallen heroes, national values, and hard-fought democracy.

Why are red poppies worn on Memorial Day?
Another custom many people are not aware of is the wearing of red poppies.  The red poppy became a symbol of veteran sacrifice during WW1 when a soldier and Canadian surgeon, Lt. Colonel John McCrae, wrote the poem, In Flanders Field.  It opens:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

Then, in 1918 Moina Michael wrote a tribute poem to honor McCrae's original and was inspired to make the red poppy a symbol for remembering WWI's fallen soldiers.  One line from her poem, We Shall Keep the Faith, reads:

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,

If you want to learn more about the history of poppies and Memorial Day, I highly recommend Cassandra Crosby's article, The Significance of Poppies.

How many have sacrificed?
The US military has recorded nearly 1.3M battle and non-combat deaths from 1775-2022.  They died in service of our nation and our Constitution honoring a sacred oath.  I took that oath to defend our Constitution in 1983 when I served as a Combat Medic/Practical Nurse in the US Army:

I, _______, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Today, let us not only honor those who died in service of the United States, but what they defended for us:  Our Constitution, our values, and our freedoms and rights.

God bless the United States our service members!

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This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is home of the brave.

ELMER DAVIS

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Have an amazing journey today!

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Alan Mikolaj is a seasoned coach and leadership development consultant with nearly 20 years of experience.  He is passionate about helping leaders transform their leadership, their teams, and their organizations.  He has an impactful, professional approach driven by a passion for meaning and purpose, a growth mindset, and a commitment to excellence and service in order to drive change and results.

Alan holds his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Associate Certified Coach credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and maintains their ethics and standards of behavior, including the standards regarding confidentiality.  You can learn more about them on the ICF website.

Transformational change starts with a conversation!
Alan is on a mission to partner with like-minded leaders who want to make a positive difference in the world.  Schedule your free, one-hour session by clicking here: Discovery Conversation with Alan
Or call or email: Contact Page

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