Memorial Day is a US National holiday set aside to honor Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives during war. Originally observed in 1868, it was proclaimed to pay homage to soldiers who died in the Civil War, but after World War I it was broadened to honor and remember American heros who died in any war.

Officially observed on the last Monday of May, many businesses are closed for business and millions of Americans enjoy a day off work. The three-day weekend at the beginning of summer is a perfect time to visit a war memorial and reflect on the hundreds of thousands who have given their all in service to our great country over the last two centuries.

There are certainly no shortage of such memorials in my home state of Virginia which saw battle during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. In fact, one of the most iconic war memorials in the country is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The somber and militarily precise changing of the guard is attended by millions annually. Nearby, in Washington DC, the National World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials, the USS Maine Mast Memorial and many others each pay a unique tribute to veterans of specific wars.

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and the Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee host regular “living history” events that bring military experiences of the past to life. Children especially enjoy this type of memorial because they are interactive and kids learn about the history and hardships of war under the guise of entertainment.

Another iconic memorial, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is dedicated to the valor of the seamen who lost their lives in the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor. It is a serene, yet powerful shrine to “a date that will live in infamy.”

Many other communities across the US have war memorials as well. They are found in Nashville and New York, Texas and Illinois. But it is important to note that they do not memorialize war itself, but rather the men and women who died for the cause. On this Memorial Day, use that extra day off work to visit a war memorial and take pause to be thankful for the sacrifices made by servicemen and women and their families on behalf of our great country. Their commitment, courage and honor have defended the freedoms we continue to enjoy and I for one am profoundly grateful.