Marines of today, yesterday honored through holiday

[USMCRET6391]

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (May 25, 2006) -- Honoring those who have served before us is a tradition throughout the ranks of the Marine Corps. Whether it is the warriors of two centuries ago or the fallen of today’s Global War on Terrorism, Memorial Day is the time when an entire nation remembers its’ fallen.

According to usmemorialday.org, the American Memorial Day was officially proclaimed May 5, 1868, by Army General John Logan in General Order No. 11 and was first observed May 30, 1868, by placing flowers of the graves of confederate and union soldiers of the Civil War.

During the National Holiday Act of 1971, the holiday was made national and was designated as the last Monday of May annually.

Congress passed an act during December 2000 which asks all Americans to do a special observance on Memorial Day at 3 p.m. local time.

“To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps,’” according to the act.

For many Marines during a time of war, Memorial Day is more than just a day of the year.

“It’s important to honor those who came before us,” said Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Hood, an embarkation specialist with Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd MLG. “My grandfather was in the Korean War, and honoring the warriors of the past, present and future is significant.”

For Marines who have deployed recently, they know the grief from war loss, said Hood.

“The holiday gives you a great sense of pride for being a Marine, especially because I have served in a combat zone myself,” said Sgt. Barbrosa D. Gooden, the Maintenance Information Systems Coordination Office chief for 2nd MLG. “My grandfather fought in Okinawa and honoring him and others who fought for the good of our country is just as important as honoring the Marines of today.”

“People sometimes don’t truly know what it means, and I hope this year, especially during a war, they recognize what it represents,” Gooden said.