Today is Memorial Day, a day to honor those who fought for our country and, according to Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Col. Charlton Meginley, one of the most significant.
“Memorial Day weekend, in my opinion, is probably the most important holiday we celebrate in America because it allows everything else to essentially happen,” says Meginley. “There— there is a price for the things that we enjoy. And all Americans should take time to reflect upon that.”
Meginley says it is important every day — but especially today — to honor the approximately 11,000 Louisiana veterans who have died in combat.
“When I think of Memorial Day, I think of so much blood that has ben spilled to protect the values and the freedoms that, you know, 330 million Americans enjoy every day,” he says.
Though Meginley thinks there’s nothing wrong with going to the beach or having a barbeque, he adds there are other ways to celebrate veterans, advising people to “take a couple of minutes in the day. Maybe if you get a chance, go to one of our state-run veterans cemeteries or or national cemeteries and… and just go and reflect on what this weekend really means.”
LDVA has five state-run veterans cemeteries across the state with almost 10,000 veterans interred. Events at those cemeteries for Memorial Day weekend include words of remembrance, prayers and the playing of Taps.
