Diverse News 2008®

NEWS FEEDS
America Recognizes Military Sacrifices on Memorial Day
    Veterans Urged to Wear Medals with Pride

    WASHINGTON, May 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- From concerts to somber
ceremonies and a moment of silence, Americans from coast to coast will
recall the sacrifices of military members who paid the ultimate price for
freedom on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

    "This is our nation's day to remember its debt to those whose sacrifice
in blood and battle secured a legacy of liberty for future generations,"
said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.

    He reminded veterans to wear their military medals on Memorial Day, a
practice called the Veterans Pride Initiative launched by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2006.

    The personal exhibition of service medals on patriotic holidays is one
way for veterans to show their support of the U.S. military and
particularly those serving in the Global War on Terror, and to inspire
conversation about military heritage with young people.

    Information for veterans about the wearing of medals and how to replace
lost medals is available at http://www.va.gov/veteranspride/.

    A tradition dating to the 19th Century after the Civil War and
originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is marked at VA facilities
across the country, especially VA's national cemeteries, whose
commemorative events honor about 1 million American men and women who died
in service during wartime periods, including more than 651,000 battle
deaths.

    This year, more than 100,000 people are expected to attend activities
at VA's national cemeteries, with color guards, ceremonies honoring
decorated veterans, and band and choir performances.

    Some national cemeteries will feature an "Avenue of Flags" flanking
both sides of the curb line, usually along the main entrance road,
sometimes consisting of burial flags donated by the next of kin of veterans
who are buried in these national shrines. Other national cemeteries may
place individual flags at gravesites.

    VA's 125 national cemeteries include 10 opened in the past nine years.
Another six cemeteries are under development. VA currently maintains 17,000
acres where 2.8 million gravesites are located. By 2010, veterans' burial
space is expected to be available to 90 percent of veterans within 75 miles
of where they live.

    Directions to VA's national cemeteries and a guide to their Memorial
Day activities are available at
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/2008MemorialDay.asp. General information
about Memorial Day, including its history, a commemorative poster and
activities links, may be found at http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/.

    VA is a cosponsor with the White House Commission on Remembrance of an
annual Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. Eastern time, nationwide on Memorial
Day, a time to pause and reflect on the valor of the fallen and the bond of
freedoms that unite Americans. Many institutions will pause their
activities -- from sporting events to announcements in public facilities --
to call the nation together to share its common bond in silence.
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