Today we pause to honor the men and women who laid down their lives so that we could be free. Memorial day, Originally known as Decoration Day, originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. So take today and cook wild game on the grill, spend too much time in the sun, and just enjoy being free with your friends and family because they gave their lives so that we could enjoy our freedom without worry. I ask that you please join me in a moment of silence for this nation's fallen heroes.