SAN ANGELO, TX, UNITED STATES -- Col. Matthew Reilman, 17th Training Wing commander, spoke at two Memorial Day ceremonies in the local community, San Angelo, Texas, May 30, 2022. Reilman spoke on the importance of honoring the memory of service members that made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the freedom of the United States of America.
Memorial Day was initially established in 1868 by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”
Today, Memorial Day is a time for Americans to honor the service and sacrifice of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen that gave their lives in defense of the United States.