The Catholic Defender Memorial Day 2026
- 51 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Memorial Day 2026 falls on Monday, May 25. The federal holiday always takes place on the last Monday of May, creating a three-day weekend often recognized as the unofficial start of the summer season.
The holiday is dedicated to honoring and mourning U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces.
National Moment of Remembrance: All Americans are encouraged to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to observe a minute of silence and reflect on the sacrifices made by fallen service members.
Flag Protocol: On Memorial Day, flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon, and then raised to the top of the staff for the remainder of the day.
Closures: As a federal and state holiday, non-essential government offices, banks, and post offices are closed
I had previously talked with my wife who told me of one of her uncles who had been wounded in battle during WW II as did one of my uncles (Joe) who was bayoneted by a Japanese running upon him during a hand to hand fight. My Uncle survived killing the enemy but it took two Soldiers to take out the bayonet that was lodged in his hip.
I was also remembering our Brothers, Gigi's Brothers Gary and Gerald as well as my Brother David, all of whom served in Vietnam. My Father served right after the Korean War, but he always had interesting stories to tell of his service. My Brother Randy was a Marine who had been deployed to Lebanon and survived the blast that hit the Marine barracks on October 23, 1983.
David did not survive the conflict and his memory is honored here today. My Wife and I have three sons who served many times as well, Chip, Matthew, and Nathan all served multiple deployments to war zones.
Thank the Lord they all came home and doing well with their families.
If there are anyone whose souls might be in Purgatory, today after Mass we prayed the Holy Rosary that hopefully offered some relief. We never know on this side of the vail of our effects here, but I can just imagine walking into the pearly gates of heaven meeting some that we did help by our prayers, our witness, and our life.
Hebrews 12:1 states, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
What a great scripture of hope for us!
President Trump earlier in his speech recalled another important verse that means so much to so many this very day: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you." John 15:13
"Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those within my own home, and in my family. Amen."
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