Memorial Day is unique among our holidays. There are no gifts to unwrap, traditional feasts to share, or dazzling fireworks displays to enjoy. We are called on this holiday simply to remember and honor those who paid the ultimate price to secure our freedoms. Their sacrifice is not a debt we can repay, but we can honor them and what they died for.
One enduring tradition that embodies this spirit is the playing of "Taps" at 3 PM local time on Memorial Day TapsAcrossAmerica.org. This simple yet haunting melody serves as a powerful tribute to fallen soldiers, a moment of collective remembrance that echoes across the nation. Families, veterans, and communities come together to play "Taps" on various instruments or even on their smartphones, ensuring that the sacrifice of the brave is never forgotten.
I hope that you will join me and so many others in this nation as we remember and honor those who gave “the last full measure of devotion1.” #TapsAcrossAmerica
- 1 Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address