Today is Memorial Day. A federal holiday in the United States for mourning U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday in May.

A time to visit cemeteries and memorials to mourn military personnel who died in the line of duty.

Interestingly, the last Monday of May is also considered the unofficial beginning of Summer.

The first national observance of what would become Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868 to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. The day at the time was designated Decoration Day. The holiday spread state to state, By 1890, every state had adopted the holiday.

Congress in 1968 designated the last Monday in May THE day to celebrate Memorial Day.

Visiting military cemeteries a major event. The cemeteries immediately impact a person. So was it with me.

My first visit to a military cemetery was totally by accident. I was on a one month vacation in Italy with my family. My parents, wife and four children. I had rented a villa on the Mediterranean 40 miles outside Rome. We would travel to other Italian areas using the villa as our home base.

One morning I woke before everyone else. I took a ride alone. We were in the Anzio area where Allied troops had landed during World War II. I saw a cemetery. Many neat and tidy white crosses in perfect rows on well cut grass.

I stopped. A small sign indicated it was the British cemetery for those who died during the Battle of Anzio.

I walked among the graves. Read the inscriptions on the crosses. Most had names and ages. Most were young. Very young. Early 20s and younger. Then there were crosses that bore no names. Only read: Known to God alone.

That is when it hit me. I began crying. The tears rolled out in volume.

I visited Arlington many times. Same physical set up as the British cemetery in Anzio. My reaction on some occasions the same as what happened in Anzio. Tears, though not as many.

Try to visit Arlington or some other military cemetery. You do not have to know anyone buried where ever you visit. It is the recognition of what they did and the lives they gave up for us.

Would you believe that as I write about the Anzio and Arlington cemeteries my eyes have filled with tears.

World War I was the war to end all wars. It did not quite make it. World War II and the other wars that have followed make the point. I doubt wars will ever totally disappear. Not part of man’s nature. A reason to fight is always found, even when not correctly/honestly based. The military cemeteries will get larger. New ones will have to be developed. It is man’s way and the world’s way to fight on…..even where the reasons therefore may be senseless.

Enjoy your day!