While the unofficial start of summer is marked by Memorial Day, there’s a deeper meaning behind this holiday aside from camping and barbeques.

Marion County Veterans’ Affairs Retired Sergeant Major Michael Kuhn says the day is about remembrance and a time to pause and reflect about the freedoms we often take for granted. He finds it rewarding that so many people still care about those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
The observance of Memorial Day dates back to the Civil War, but it wasn’t until the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968 that it was officially recognized annually on the last Monday in May.