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National Moment of Remembrance: Can you spare one?

Connie Brown's photo
DC Historic Travel Examiner
Memorial Day 2009
The U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)
 

Americans. We're such a busy people.

Memorial Day weekend, pools open gates to eager children. Cars, trucks and RVs head to beach and mountain resorts. Couples stroll hand-in-hand along shady park paths. Families, friends and communities fire up grills, share picnics and laughter.

Washington, D.C.'s residents and visitors may do several of these things, plus take in a historic site's Memorial Day event.

Whether or not you attend a Memorial Day event in D.C. or your community, you can honor the true purpose of Memorial Day by taking a moment of silent reflection wherever you are.

Congress had this in mind when they established a National Moment of Remembrance, asking Americans to pause from their activities on Memorial Day at 3:00 p.m. (local time), for one minute of silence. This is a small sacrifice to ask of busy Americans: to still their lives, hearts and minds to show honor for those we owe so much.

So, whether you're wearing a bathing suit or hiking gear, sandals or polished shoes on Memorial Day, can you spare a moment (or more) to remember?

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, DC Historic Travel Examiner

Connie Brown has enjoyed history and sites in the Washington, DC, area for more than 20 years. Her writing has appeared in The Waterline, a military newspaper serving Naval District Washington, and in many periodicals.

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