A Letter from the Chairwoman — Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

Dear Veteran,

As we enjoy the fun and excitement of the summer months, one crucial day marks a time to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, is a special day to remember the lives and sacrifices of those who died in battle or because of an injury sustained in combat.

Memorial Day was first known as Decoration Day and honored only the warriors who fell in battle during the Civil War. The tradition of decorating military members’ graves and holding ceremonies began after the Civil War when our first national cemeteries for Veterans were established. Decoration Day was also dedicated initially solely to honoring those who perished during the Civil War. After World War I, this day was expanded to commemorate all American military members who had died in all wars.

In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday, and the date was moved to the last Monday of every May. Today, Memorial Day is a significant holiday marked by parades, barbeques, decorating Veterans’ cemeteries with American flags, and the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. when Americans are silent to remember the men and women who have died in service.

Here at the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), we are dedicated to preserving the memories and legacies of the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifices while serving our grateful nation. For many years, the VLB has held Memorial Day Ceremonies for Veterans and the public to honor these heroes at their sacred resting places. This year, the VLB held Memorial Day ceremonies at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, and the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.

Speaking at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony with Governor Greg Abbott, Killeen City Mayor Debbie Nash-King, and U.S. Army Lt. General Sean C. Bernabe was an honor and a privilege. It was a special time to connect with Veterans and their families as we together mourned and celebrated this nation’s fallen warriors.

An “Avenue of Flags” lined the cemetery entrances at each ceremony, and a Final Roll Call was taken, during which the names of the service members Killed in Action and buried at the cemetery were read aloud. At night, the headstones of service members Killed in Action or Missing in Action were illuminated at the four VLB State Veterans Cemeteries in Abilene, Corpus Christi, Killeen, and Mission. All Texas State Veterans Cemeteries were open 24 hours a day for night viewing through Monday, May 27.

I look forward to continuing the VLB’s Memorial Day traditions at our beautiful Texas State Veterans Cemeteries. I encourage Texans to participate in these ceremonies and remember the heavy cost of our freedom year-round.

For Texas,

Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D.