Remembering America’s Fallen Heroes.

This is a note of thanks for those who have died to keep us free, from Doug Padgett, President and CEO of Totally Kids. Join us in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to our nation.

It is fitting, in my mind, that citizens and leaders of this great United States of America were first motivated to recognize those who died in war by giving tribute to those who died in a massive conflict to ensure that every man and woman in this country is truly free. No other nation has gone so far.

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nation-wide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed.

In his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy said, “We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival … of liberty.” On this Memorial Day, we remember and honor the American patriots who paid the price, bore the burden and met the hardships to assure the survival of our liberty.

There are few things more selfless or noble than sacrificing one’s life for a higher cause, particularly when that cause is the freedom and security of our fellow Americans. This is the reason the day is set aside to honor our military heroes who gave what Abraham Lincoln called their “last full measure of devotion” in defense of freedom.

To ensure the sacrifices of America’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and President William J. Clinton signed into law, The National Moment of Remembrance Act to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating Memorial Day commemorations including a National Moment of Remembrance. If you live nearby an Amtrak route, listen for their whistles to blow at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day in remembrance of the fallen.

Acknowledgments are given to TownHall.com, SanBernardinoSymphony.com, and History.com for contributed content.