After a very successful career in nursing, pharmacy, and teaching at the university level, Dr. Kaufman also attained a Master of Theology degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Today he serves on Dr. Floyd’s staff team at Pinnacle Hills. A prolific reader, Dr. Kaufman has authored numerous articles on topics in medicine and theology.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. It was officially declared a holiday on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first celebrated May 30 of the same year when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in Arlington National Cemetary. In his order of proclamation, General Logan wrote,

…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.

According to a website dedicated specifically to providing information on the holiday, “The “Memorial” in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice.”  How, then, are we to observe Memorial Day?  The site suggests the following:

• By visiting cemetaries and placing flags or flowers on the gravesites of our fallen heroes.
• By visiting memorials,
• By flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon,
• By flying the ‘POW/MIA’ Flag as well (section 082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act),
• By participating in a “National Moment of Remembrance” at 3 PM to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played,
• By renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

However you choose to observe it, I hope you’ll join me in making it a Day of Remembrance for those who gave their all in the service of this great Nation. May God Bless America!