Memorial Day is a unique American holiday. Unlike the many other holidays we celebrate, on Memorial Day we do not honor a particular date, person, or event. We do not honor a particular battle or war, or an individual leader.

What began with a letter to lay flowers on the graves of Civil War soldiers, today is a national collective moment of remembrance for those who have accepted our nation’s most solemn duty. On May 5, 1868, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, the head of an organization of Union veterans, wrote a letter to his posts establishing ‘Decoration Day’ as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead “with the choicest flowers of springtime”. It is believed that Gen. Logan declared the day should be May 30 because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. 

Gen. Logan’s order for his posts to decorate graves urged: “We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. ... Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.”

Today, on Memorial Day, we pay homage to the thousands and thousands of individual acts of bravery and sacrifice that stretch from the battlefields of the Revolution to the deserts of Iraq. We honor these brave men and women who answered their Nation's call to duty and, in making the ultimate sacrifice, never returned to their families and loved ones. 

All around the world, in the hearts of reunited families, in the minds of children attending school for the first time, in the spirits of people of every faith now allowed to worship freely, American soldiers are remembered for their sacrifices - sacrifices made not just for their loved ones, but for those they had never met. 

Here at home, the memories of the fallen live on eternally. In the precious memories and faithful devotion of their families, in the loving hands that place poppies on graves in military cemeteries, in the flags snapping proudly in the breeze at doorsteps around the Nation, our fallen heroes are remembered. Without them, our Nation and our history would be forever altered. Without the heroes of Bunker Hill and Lexington and Yorktown, we might still be a British colony. Without the heroes at Gettysburg and Petersburg, we might not be one unified country but two separate nations. 

Without the heroes of the Ardennes and Ypres, of Normandy and Anzio, the boundaries of the world would be drawn very differently. Without the heroes of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Iron Curtain might have encircled the globe. And today, without the heroes of Iraq and Afghanistan, nations of people would not know democracy. Each war, each battle, each individual act of bravery has collectively strengthened and fortified what was once a fledgling democracy.

This weekend, nearly sixty years after US troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, I will join thousands of World War II veterans in dedicating the National World War II Memorial. Sitting on our national mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the National Monument, the memorial honors all veterans of the war – those who sacrificed on the home front as well as the front lines abroad. It is a monument to America’s “Greatest Generation” and to the moral purpose that ultimately warranted our nation's involvement. 

The memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. 

This Memorial Day, as we place flowers and flags at the graves of our loved ones, we remember our youth with them - a paper route we shared after school, a football victory, a class we took together in school. In life, they were just like us. They came from all walks of life, from our farms and from our cities. They were young, and funny, and full of energy. They were our children, our brothers and sisters, our sweethearts, our fathers and mothers, our husbands and wives, our friends. They were Americans. In death, they are a silent reminder of the high price some pay so that the rest of us might enjoy the benefits of living in this great Nation. They remind us that we are fortunate; we are blessed; that what we are living for is worth dying for.

:: Ten Tips for Volunteering Wisely ::

Whether you are a student on summer break, a senior with some extra time, or a family looking for opportunities to bond together, summer is a great time to get involved in your community by volunteering. Take a moment to read these tips on volunteering wisely from USA Freedom Corps.

When you've decided you would like to volunteer, you can use the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network to find volunteer opportunities at home or abroad. Visit www.usafreedomcorps.gov, enter your geographic information, such as zip code or state, and your area of interest, so you can access service opportunities near your home or office, across the country or overseas. 

1. Research the causes or issues important to you.

Look for a group that works with issues about which you feel strongly. You might already be giving money to one of these organizations, and that might be a good place to begin your volunteer experience. If you can't find such an organization, here's a challenging and intriguing thought: why not start one yourself? You can rally your neighbors to clean up that vacant lot on the corner, patrol the neighborhood, paint an elderly neighbor's house, take turns keeping an eye on the ailing person down the street, or form a group to advocate for a remedy to that dangerous intersection in your neighborhood. There is no end to the creative avenues for volunteering, just as there is no end to the need for volunteers.

2. Consider the skills you have to offer.

If you enjoy outdoor work, have a knack for teaching, or just enjoy interacting with people, you may want to look for volunteer work that would incorporate these aspects of your personality. Many positions require a volunteer who has previous familiarity with certain equipment, such as computers, or who possesses certain skills, such as ability in athletics or communications. For one of these positions you might decide to do something comparable to what you do on the job during your workday, or something that you already enjoy as a hobby. This sort of position allows you to jump right into the work without having to take training to prepare for the assignment.

3. Would you like to learn something new?

Perhaps you would like to learn a new skill or gain exposure to a new situation. Consider seeking a volunteer opportunity where you'll learn something new. For example, volunteering to work on the newsletter for the local animal shelter will improve your writing and editing abilities - skills that may help you in your career. Or, volunteering can simply offer a change from your daily routine. For example, if your full-time job is in an office, you may decide to take on a more active volunteer assignment, such as leading tours at an art museum or building a playground. Many nonprofits seek out people who are willing to learn. Realize beforehand, however, that such work might require a time commitment for training before the actual volunteer assignment begins.

4. Combine your goals.

Look for volunteer opportunities that will also help you achieve your other goals for your life. For example, if you want to lose a few extra pounds, pick an active volunteer opportunity, such as cleaning a park or working with kids. Or, if you've been meaning to take a cooking class, try volunteering at a food bank that teaches cooking skills.

5. Don't over-commit your schedule.

Make sure the volunteer hours you want to give fit into your hectic life, so that you don't frustrate your family, exhaust yourself, shortchange the organization you're trying to help or neglect your job. Do you want a long-term assignment or something temporary? If you are unsure about your availability, or want to see how the work suits you before making an extensive commitment, see whether the organization will start you out on a limited number of hours until you get the feel of things. Better to start out slowly than to commit yourself to a schedule you can't or don't want to fulfill.

6. Nonprofits may have questions, too.

While most nonprofits are eager to find volunteer help, they have to be careful when accepting the services you offer. If you contact an organization with an offer to volunteer your time, you may be asked to come in for an interview, fill out a volunteer application, or describe your qualifications and your background just as you would at an interview for a paying job. It is in the organization's interest and more beneficial to the people it serves to make certain you have the skills needed, that you are truly committed to doing the work, and that your interests match those of the nonprofit. Furthermore, in volunteer work involving children or other at-risk populations, there are legal ramifications for the organization to consider.

7. Consider volunteering as a family.

Think about looking for a volunteer opportunity suitable for parents and children to do together, or for a husband and wife to take on as a team. When a family volunteers to work together at a nonprofit organization, the experience can bring them closer together, teach young children the value of giving their time and effort, introduce everyone in the family to skills and experiences never before encountered, and give the entire family a shared experience as a wonderful family memory.

8. Virtual volunteering?

Yes, there is such a thing! If you have computer access and the necessary skills, some organizations now offer the opportunity to do volunteer work over the computer. This might take the form of giving free legal advice, typing a college term paper for a person with a disability, or simply keeping in contact with a shut-in who has e-mail. This sort of volunteering might be well suited to you if you have limited time, no transportation, or a physical disability that precludes you from getting about freely. Virtual volunteering can also be a way for you to give time if you simply enjoy computers and want to employ your computer skills in your volunteer work.

9. I never thought of that!

Many community groups are looking for volunteers, and some may not have occurred to you. Most of us know that hospitals, libraries, and churches use volunteers for a great deal of their work, but here are some volunteer opportunities that may not have crossed your mind:

- Day care centers, Neighborhood Watch, Public Schools and Colleges 
- Halfway houses, Community Theaters, Drug Rehabilitation - Centers, Fraternal Organizations and Civic Clubs 
- Retirement Centers and Homes for the Elderly, Meals on Wheels, Church or Community-Sponsored Soup Kitchens or Food Pantries 
- Museums, Art Galleries, and Monuments 
- Community Choirs, Bands and Orchestras 
- Prisons, Neighborhood Parks, Youth Organizations, Sports Teams, and after-school programs, Shelters for Battered Women and Children 
- Historical Restorations, Battlefields and National Parks 

10. Give voice to your heart through your giving and volunteering!

Bring your heart and your sense of humor to your volunteer service, along with your enthusiastic spirit, which in itself is a priceless gift. What you'll get back will be immeasurable!