Honoring Our Heroes: How Memorial Day Reflects Local Veterans' Sacrifices

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Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May each year in the United States. It honors the approximately 1.2 million military personnel who have died in service since the Revolutionary War. Unlike Veterans Day in November, which honors all veterans, Memorial Day specifically remembers those who have died. The holiday, originally called Decoration Day, started after the Civil War and became a federal holiday in 1971.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) acknowledges the significance of Memorial Day and its impact on military and veterans' affairs. Following the 2022 elections, it was reported that 748 military veterans serve in state legislatures across the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the five U.S. territories, making up about 10% of all state and territorial legislators.

The NCSL is set to address military and veterans' issues at their upcoming Legislative Summit in Louisville, Kentucky. The summit will include sessions on military issues and veterans affairs, focusing on innovative policies to support veterans and strategies to address environmental concerns like 'Forever Chemicals.'

The summit will also host the Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force Preconference Meeting and sessions on national security and state-focused strategies. These meetings highlight the commitment to improving support for veterans and addressing military-related environmental and security issues.