Remembering Fallen Service Members on Memorial Day

How are different voices across the political spectrum recognizing Memorial Day?

Originally known as "Decoration Day," the holiday was first celebrated in 1869 as a way for the U.S. to honor those who died in the Civil War with flowers. It has since been expanded to commemorate fallen U.S. service members in all foreign wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday, and scheduled it for the last Monday in May. The National Moment of Remembrance, when Americans are asked to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died, takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time on Monday.

Many voices on all sides commemorated young people who had given their lives for the U.S. while serving in the armed forces, and framed their sacrifices as worthy of recognition. Writers on both sides of the aisle also highlighted Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a current threat to young lives and freedom.

Some on the left, such as the Washington Post's Editorial Board, also invoked the recent U.S. mass shootings as examples of lives being cut short unjustly "— by neglect, greed, orchestrated hatreds or delusional aggressions." Some on the right, such as former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R), argued that "freedom faces its toughest challenge in decades," and highlighted things such as the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan and China's mistreatment of the Uighur Muslim minority.