Sadly enough, many Americans unintentionally will disrespect the true meaning and purpose of today’s solemn national holiday.

After all, ever since 1971 when Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be observed on the fourth Monday in May, for many, the holiday is simply the final day of a long weekend dedicated to the start of summer fun and frolic.

For far too many of us, Memorial Day’s primary purpose has been corrupted. The day has become a day to fire up that shiny new grill for outdoor barbecues, a day to catch some rays at the beach or simply a day off work to sleep and squander away.

Others tend to confuse today’s holiday with Veterans Day in November. Veterans Day marks a nation’s homage to all men and women — living and dead — who have served in the armed forces in the nation’s 10 major wars over the past 250 years.

Memorial Day, however, is much more narrowly defined. It is not a day to chipperly wish friends and family a “happy holiday.” It is the day that the nation sets aside to gratefully remember and soberly honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. It is also a day to comfort and support the family members the fallen have left behind.

President Donald J. Trump, in his official 2025 proclamation of this sacred American holiday, reinforced those purposes. He proclaimed, “We are eternally indebted to our Nation’s fallen heroes. On this solemn day, as we honor their sacrifice, the First Lady and I ask all citizens to join us in prayer that Almighty God may comfort those who mourn, grant protection to all who serve, and bring blessed peace to the world.”

We can answer that call by taking part in today’s National Moment of Remembrance. This event of national unity has been observed each year since 2000 and encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time for one minute of silence, honor and reflection about those who have died in service to our nation.

As Moment of Remembrance Founder Carmella La Spada put it, “It’s one way all of us can help put the “memorial” back in Memorial Day.”

In addition to collectively marking that moment in time, Americans can fittingly honor this holiday in other ways as well. They can fly their flags appropriately at half-staff until noon. They can reflect back on the origins of Memorial Day, earlier known as Decoration Day, by cleaning and decorating the gravestones of U.S. veterans. Or they can take part in numerous parades and services in the area this weekend.

Before firing up that grill for a holiday barbecue, however, let us all vow to save a few meaningful moments today for praying, remembering or honoring our fallen soldiers.

It is the least a grateful nation can do to memorialize and pay homage to the service of its 1.2 million Americans who have died in U.S. combat missions from freeing colonists from stern British rule in the 18th century to lessening the threat and horrors of global terrorism in the 21st century.