Three years after the end of the Civil War, Gen. John Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared May 30 as Decoration Day, a day to remember soldiers. Although the day was originally designated to honor those who died in the Civil War, it quickly became a tradition to remember all American soldiers on the last Monday in May.

Today, Memorial Day is a holiday in which families unite for barbecues or for picnics. Although many families may not remember the true meaning of the day, it now has a new significance. It is a time to put the appointment books aside and visit with loved ones. It is a time not only to cherish our freedoms, but a time to enjoy the company of loved ones.

This is just as well.

It is easy to forget the importance of loved ones when deadlines are fast approaching and the hustle and bustle of every day life fills the schedule from eight to five. Memorial Day allows us to relax on a beach or in a backyard while also allowing us to laugh with our children or chat with our parents. It is a time to be thankful for all that America is and to remember those who made it that way.

Gen. Logan’s proclamation read, &uot;Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime.&uot; This Memorial Day take time to remember not only those who have died fighting for American freedoms, but also those loved ones who are still with us. Decorate their lives with a few flowers.