Remember Memorial Day 2014

You don’t really wish someone a Happy Memorial Day.  Blessed doesn’t work either…you could go with something like have a Safe Memorial Day, but it still sounds flat.  I think the preferred greeting should be — Remember Memorial Day, because that is what we are tasked with doing.  Remember the fallen heroes of wars past and current.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day to honor the 110,000 troops killed in action during the American Civil War.  It wasn’t until 1967 that the final Monday of May was declared a federal holiday for all soldiers who have died in service.  If you were feeling generous you could donate to something like the Memorial Day Foundation that places flowers on the graves of the dead, but the pragmatist in me says your money would be better spent on wheelchairs for vets through something like the Independence Fund.

image credit http://www.independencefund.org/

 From the website of the Independence Fund:

Since its inception, the all-volunteer Indy Fund has provided more than $15,000,000 in grants and services to severely injured veterans while fully maintaining its core values of:

Providing tools, therapies and guidance to severely injured Veterans

Maintaining an all-volunteer staff

Maintaining a Board of Directors comprised entirely of combat Veterans

Championing the value of physical activity no matter what the level of disability

Promoting the use of art as a healing tool

Breaking down the barriers between the disabled and able-bodied communities through Veteran speaking engagements and community based events such as Lt. Dan Weekend

image from http://warriorsandquietwaters.org

DT commenter Oldsmobuick added a link to another charity, in his words:

We are forever in the debt of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
This charity, Warriors & Quiet Waters , brings a little Montana peace into veterans lives.

If you know of a better charity for wounded or disabled veterans, hit the comments below, or if you’d like to make a donation, please visit independencefund.org.