On Monday, honor the fallen

This Monday is Memorial Day. Most Americans will celebrate the holiday in a multitude of ways – picnics, barbecues and family gatherings are the most popular.  My family and I will be spending the holiday by the pool and barbecuing. It should be fun. This year we’re going to add an additional event to our day.

A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. (EST) for sixty seconds.

We will take a pause from the day’s festivities and remember all those men and women whom gave their lives to preserve of our liberties.

I wanted to write something poetic and enduring for our fallen heroes but, instead decided on posting a letter from a Commander-in-Chief to a widower – Mrs. Lydia Bixby.  

Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,–

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

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Tags: lincoln letter, memorial day, observance