I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. ~Benjamin Harrison

This weekend we take the time to honor our nation's heroes, the thousands of men and women who, because they cared about their families and their country, valiantly laid down their lives to first create this country and then to protect its freedoms.

We agree with the sentiments Benjamin Harrison expressed in the quote above. This is not a time of sadness nor weeping; it is a time to celebrate people whose hearts were filled with courage and valor, who in looking at the face of death did not waiver from their duties.

Decoration Day was created after the Civil War to honor the dead soldiers of both the North and the South.
In 1967, the name was officially changed to Memorial Day so as to include all soldiers killed in any war or skirmish.

At 10 a.m. Monday, there will be a special presentation on the Covington square in honor of our fallen soldiers.
If you have no loved ones coming into town to visit, or yours are buried in faraway lands, we might suggest you tune into PBS at 8 p.m. tonight to catch the live patriotic Capital Lawn Memorial service. It will touch your heart and probably bring about a tear of celebration or two.

We salute with the greatest pride all of our fallen heroes, as well as all of those missing in action, who are truly remembered and celebrated as well.