Memorial Day weekend may be the official start of summer for many. The long weekend with days on a sandy shore, having a cookout or enjoying that federal holiday on the last Monday of the month of May. But its origins are steeped in military traditions dating back to the Civil War era when those both sides of the battlefield took time out to remember those who died in battle.
“Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service. In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time.” according to the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
On May 27, members of the Trail Life Troop GA 2215 in conjunction with American Legion Post 192 of Evans placed flags on the graves of military service members at Bellevue Memorial Gardens in Grovetown.
A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 29 at the Veterans of All Wars Memorial on Broad Street.
Mike Adams has won numerous Georgia Press Association awards for photography. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News newsletter here.
