A history lesson on Memorial Day's Southern roots

Friendship Cemertery's memorial to both Confederate and Union soldiers. On Monday, May 30, our country will be caught up in hot dogs and hamburgers and picnics — all things distinctly American as we enjoy one of those Congressionally mandated three-day weekends. But while we party, we should stop and pause and say a prayer of thanks for those men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Memorial Day is a time when we honor our fallen ... all of whom were fathers and sons and brothers and mothers and daughters and sisters to someone. It's an observance that had its beginnings in Columbus, Miss. Back after the War Between the States, a group of mothers and wives and daughters had gone to Friendship Cemetery to remember their loved ones who had fallen in the great conflict. As the story is told, the women noticed a group of graves in a corner of the cemetery and went to see who was buried there. It was soldiers of the Union Army. You see, both Confederate and Union soldiers who died in the 1862 Battle of Shiloh are buried in Columbus' Friendship Cemetery. The women are said to have expressed concern that someone would have died so far from home, wondering what their loved ones might be thinking. They knew that if their loved ones had fallen far from home, they would want someone to remember them. On April 25, 1866 the ladies of Columbus decided to decorate both Confederate and Union soldiers' graves with garlands and bouquets of beautiful flowers. Friendship Cemetery has been called "Where Flowers Healed A Nation."  And, although other communities in the nation, some by Congressional proclamation, are said to be the birthplace of our Memorial Day, the truth is that it began in Columbus. On Memorial Day, take the time to give thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. At 3 p.m., Americans around the world are asked to pause and say a prayer for peace as part of the National Moment of Remembrance. It's not really a lot to ask, is it? To take a few minutes away from hot dogs and hamburgers and fun and frolic to remember those who died so you would have the opportunity to take the day off? To speak your mind? To worship without reprisal? Remember to fly your flag and never forget that freedom is anything but free.