A public memorial program was held this morning at the Lt. Charles Garrison Veterans Memorial in Adrian . This event was the a shorter version of the service that was held Saturday for Memorial Day.
A group from Washington DC including Congressman Mark Alford and his staff was on hand for the POW/MIA ceremony today and the crowd was addressed by keynote speaker, 33 year Navy Seal veteran, Bill Irwin.
A little history about Memorial Day:
Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War II, The Vietnam War, The Korean War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date General Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
Enjoy some photos of this event below courtesy of our friend Mike Burris of the the Adrian News Leader.
For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date General Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
Enjoy some photos of this event below courtesy of our friend Mike Burris of the the Adrian News Leader.
