OWC is closed today in honor and recognition of Memorial Day. Not just another three day weekend, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance to commemorate the lives given in service to our great nation; parades, speeches, and family observances occur nationwide to honor those thousands of fallen men and women.
This solemn day of remembrance was originally designated in 1868 to be recognized each year on the 30th of May. In 1971 Congress passed legislation to change the recognized day to instead fall on the last Monday of each May. In this year 2011, the now designated day does coincide with that originally designated. With respect to what this day is about, I do believe and without regard to a weekend or last Monday of a month, that it should May 30th every year. A great source of information on this important day and its history is the website www.USMemorialDay.org.
OWC proudly flies an American Flag at our headquarters and in compliance with Memorial Day decorum, it has been my personal honor to set our flag to half-mast at sunrise and then restore it to full mast at noon. The entire OWC team takes its responsibility to our members of the Armed Forces very seriously and we support their efforts far beyond honoring those who have lost their lives.
We owe so much to our fallen heroes, to every Veteran, and to the men and women serving to protect our country today. We remember those who paid the ultimate price for our Freedom with a moment of silence and the playing of Taps at 3pm.
Words can hardly convey our thanks for the Freedom and Liberty that they have protected with their lives. In 2000, legislation was passed to grant the right to every Veteran that a bugle rendition of taps be played at their passing. With not enough buglers to attend to each, it was more typical that it be played from recording or other means. Veteran Tom Day founded Bugles Across America to make sure every Vet could have the deserved honor and recognition of taps played live. Today this organization has over 7500 bugler volunteers to ensure just that.
Our sincere thanks and gratitude goes out to all those serving today and those who have served in our Armed Forces across time. We remember and honor all and always those that have fallen in the line of duty.
