Many of us will spend this long weekend visiting family and friends, attending picnics, parties and other up beat events. All of these freedoms we will enjoy are thanks to those who have given their lives defending our way of life. It is important for us to take a moment on Monday to Honor those who gave their lives protecting our freedoms.

Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service.

On Monday a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are 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 the nation.

“…gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime….let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude,–the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.” –General John Logan, General Order No. 11, 5 May 1868