Photo: The Press Enterprise

By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF

Due to the covid-19 citywide lockdown and the expanding coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico announced on Friday, May 22, that it will not hold its annual Memorial Day service at the Mexico City National Cemetery in Colonia San Rafael.

In its place, there will be a private wreath-laying ceremony on Monday, May 25, with U.S. Ambassador Christopher Landau and the embassy’s senior Department of Defense official.

Later, the embassy will post the ambassador’s remarks and photos from the event on social media.

In keeping with a tradition dating back to the end of the U.S. Civil War, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, along with members of American Legion’s Alan Seeger Post 2 and U.S. community here, usually observe Memorial Day with a solemn ceremony at the Mexico City National Cemetery.

Memorial Day is a time when U.S. citizens honor the memory of those fallen heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Memorial Day, which was originally known as Decoration Day, was first observed in the United States on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in accordance with an official proclamation by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.

In 1882, the name Decoration Day was changed to Memorial Day, and in 1971, the date was declared a national holiday.

Today, it is traditionally celebrated throughout the United States on the last Monday in May, although many veteran organizations still prefer to honor U.S. military dead on May 30.

…May 23, 2020