Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. It was established in 1868 to commemorate the dead from the Civil War. Over the years it came to serve as a day to remember all U.S. men and women killed or missing in action in all wars.
The first observance was in Waterloo, New York on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter.
I Thank you, every one of you, from New York to California, to Iraq to Afghanistan who fought or died to make our freedom possible.
Thank you.