This is the time of year when Troy gives others the opportunity to share their voice and words of wisdom, which I happily volunteered to do. Contemplating a topic, I began with ideas sparked by Teddy and Troy at the CEO-for-a-day staff meeting, but then it hit me that it was Memorial Day. A day that embodies service.
This seems especially relevant, given TEDCO’s intentional shift from a programming focus to deeper focus on and embrace of “service.” And what better way to start, then with the very first Memorial Day?
First, a few quick “thank yous” - Teddy, for your inspiring words on TEDCO’s service and impact; Troy for challenging us daily, asking us to consider how we can better serve Maryland’s innovation economy and entrepreneurs; and all of 1TEDCO for all you do to make Maryland a better place to innovate, inspire and improve lives!
The Heart of Memorial Day: Service and Sacrifice
Each year, on the last Monday of May, we celebrate Memorial Day, an occasion marked by – not just parades and yard work – but remembrance and reflection. While this day signals the unofficial start of summer, at its core, it serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of freedom and the value of service.
Memorial Day honors the fallen. But it's also about recognizing what motivated their sacrifice, a commitment to service and a profound belief in something bigger than themselves. Whether in World War II or Afghanistan, these individuals served with courage and conviction, defending ideals that transcend generations: liberty, justice, and peace.
This spirit of service connects Memorial Day to all of us; it takes many forms including government service, community work, and civic engagement. As we honor Memorial Day, we are inspired to reflect on the sacrifice veterans made for us and pass it on through service to others.
The First Memorial Day: A Legacy Rooted in Gratitude and Hope
It surprised me to learn that the origins of Memorial Day trace back to the aftermath of the Civil War. According to go-to sources, Chat GPT and AARP, one of the earliest and most significant observances, occurred on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina.
Just weeks after the war ended, a group of 28 formerly enslaved men and women, along with Black ministers and Union troops, held a powerful ceremony at a former Confederate prison camp where over 250 Union soldiers were imprisoned, died, and buried in mass, unmarked graves during the last year of the war.
These freedmen and women reinterred the bodies in proper graves, built an archway named “Martyrs of the Race Course,” at the prison (a former confederate planters’ racetrack), and held a parade – attended by thousands mostly black residents, as well as members of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. This early memorial was a tribute to those who fought for emancipation, the Union victory in the Civil War, and a celebration of freedom.
This act of remembrance was not only about mourning but about reclaiming dignity, expressing gratitude for service and sacrifice, and asserting a vision of a more just and united nation. Over time, similar tributes spread and three years later, Memorial Day was established as a National Day of Remembrance. In 1971, May 1st became a federal holiday.
Service as a Living Memorial
That incredible example set 160 years ago underscores a profound truth: remembrance is not passive – it is an act of service. When we volunteer, engage in our communities, serve and strive to uplift others, we extend the legacy of Memorial Day; we transform reflection into action and remembrance into inspiration, just as those in 1885 did.
As we recall Memorial Day and gear up for summer, let us also ask: how can we serve in memory of those who sacrificed so much? And how can we remember those formerly enslaved Americans who inspired one of the first and most powerful memorial days?
Memorial Day challenges us not only to look back but to move forward with purpose. In honoring them, may we be inspired not just to remember, but to serve.