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Today on Wellsboro Home Page we review the highlights of the special Memorial Day Ceremony that took place here in Wellsboro yesterday, May 25th.

Memorial Day is often confused with Veterans Day, regarding its purpose. If you look at social media these days it is very evident that many people get these two days mixed up, or somehow combine the two observances into one theme.

Wikipedia defines Memorial Day as follows: Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.[1] The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May,[2] originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans — established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.[3] By the 20th century, competing Union and Confederate holiday traditions, celebrated on different days, had merged, and Memorial Day eventually extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.[1] It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.

Veterans Day is another federal holiday which takes place on November 11th. This is the day set apart to honor all who have served in the armed forces. On this special day we take time to remember and thank all the men and women and their families who have served or who are serving in the military.

However, yesterday’s Memorial Day ceremony was to remember and honor those who gave their lives for the cause of freedom. We humbly remember them and thank those surviving family members of lost loved ones with all of our hearts. Let us never forget.