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First Place Runner-Up in the Middle School Division was…. Ryan Miller!
CONGRATULATIONS, RYAN!
Read Ryan’s prize winning essay below... |
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Memorial Day is the day where we remember the ones who have fallen in war for our country. After World War I this holiday was extended to honor all men and women, who have died in any war or any type of military action. This new name “Memorial Day” did not come along until after World War II as originally it was called Decoration Day. The true meaning of Memorial Day is “National Moment of Remembrance.” It is about reconciliation and coming together to honor others who have fallen in war. The first state to officially this Holiday was New York in 1873. In May 1966 President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo New York the birth place of Memorial Day. It used to be held on May 30 every year but it has been changed and many people would like it to be changed back to its original day of celebration. It is celebrated now by almost all states on the last Monday in May. Many southern states have an additional separate day that is made to honor the confederate war dead. Many people nowadays have forgotten the true meaning of Memorial Day. They see it as a long weekend for family trips or a day off of work or school. Memorial Day should be a day where everyone slows down their life to remember and thank those who have fought for our country and died in war. To pay those soldiers who have died for our country attention for one day is about the least people could do, but many don’t even recognize them at all. People should fly their flags at half mast on this day as a sign of remembrance. What Memorial Day means to me is about family and friends coming together to honor and think about those who gave their lives for us. We should go to Memorial Day services and places that honor the fallen soldiers. It should be a quiet and calm day all about the people who have fallen for our country. We should all go back to the old traditions of wearing certain clothes and raising the flag to half mast on this day. We should attend Memorial Day services and go to fallen soldiers graves to honor them. They deserve our attention for at least this one day for what they have done for us to protect us. They put their lives in harm way so we can keep our freedom. They went across the world to fight the people that want to hurt us. They had enough courage to do what they needed to do for us. They did everything they could to protect us. We should do what we can to honor these soldiers every year because that is the least we can do. We should all come together and think about how we have had people use their lives and put theirs in harms way for people they didn’t even know to protect their country. - Ryan Miller |
