After the Civil War, “Decoration Day,” the day now known as Memorial Day, was a day to honor those killed in that war by decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags. One of the earliest recorded tributes to the fallen was in 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina when a group of formerly enslaved people re-buried Union soldiers from a mass grave into individual graves and held a parade to honor them. In 1868 Major General John A Logan established “Decoration Day” as a national observance at Arlington National Cemetery, on land that was once the estate of Confederate general Robert E Lee. It was not officially called Memorial Day until 1967. Traditionally, on this day, the President lays a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor those we have lost. But today, the President’s laying a wreath in solemn recognition of our soldiers’ ultimate sacrifice is little more than an empty gesture. Honor? Respect? Hardly. In 2018 Trump called US Marines who died at Belleau Wood “suckers” and “losers” and chose not to visit the Aisne - Marne US cemetery because, as was reported in The Atlantic, his hair “would become disheveled in the rain.” Trump also asked aides, “Who were the good guys in this war?” and could not understand why the US had come to the aid of the Allies. Trump’s ignorance and disdain are not limited to those who were killed, saying of John McCain, “ He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” Trump does not want to stand next to disabled veterans, saying that wounded veterans, especially amputees, do not “look good” for him. He reportedly does not want to be seen next to a Black female officer at military events. Trump does not seek to honor, he seeks to debase and erase. Thankfully, we are not like Trump. This Memorial Day we the people will lay flowers, wreaths and flags, our gestures full of respect, to honor and to remember those who serve and those who made the ultimate sacrifice even as we hope and pray for peace. We acknowledge their courage, their loyalty, and their worth. We have not forgotten who and what this day is truly about.