Memorial Day: To remember those who died that freedom would survive

Memorial Day used to be celebrated throughout the United States as a holiday most Americans took advantage of by maximizing the three-day holiday through traveling (if they could afford it) or by simply relaxing in gatherings of family and friends in backyard barbecues or events held locally. The central focus was on spending precious time together with those who matter most. Unfortunately, after the tragedies on September 11, 2001, Memorial Day took on a whole new meaning for many Americans, especially those who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks on American soil. That day continues to be a demarcation point from which many other events are measured in the “post 9/11 world.” In the aftermath of the horror, the ashes from destroyed and broken lives were strewn throughout the nation. The memories of such devastation left permanent scars.