According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Memorial Day and Veterans Day serve two very different purposes. Both honor those who have served our country, but Memorial Day is dedicated to remembering the brave men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military or later died as a direct result of wounds sustained in service.
An easy way to remember the difference is in the name itself: Memorial Day is for those we memorialize—those who gave their lives in service to our country.
Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors all veterans—living and deceased—whether they served during wartime or peacetime. It is a day to recognize and thank every person who has worn the uniform.
Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors all veterans—living and deceased—whether they served during wartime or peacetime. It is a day to recognize and thank every person who has worn the uniform.
Both holidays are important, but Memorial Day carries a special weight. When you consider the number of Americans who have lost their lives in our nation's wars, the sacrifice is staggering. According to Wikipedia, more than 1.43 million Americans have died in military conflicts.
These brave men and women are not just names in history books—they are our ancestors. They fought for what they believed in and paid the ultimate price. They left behind wives, husbands, children, parents, siblings, and entire communities whose lives were forever changed by their loss.
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| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war |
This Memorial Day I am honoring all veterans who died for our country, but one soldier in particular. He was my second cousin once removed and he died when I was six years old.
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| John Norman Wickliffe 1940-1967 |
His name was John Norman Wickliffe, my second cousin once removed.
John was born on July 28, 1940, to Hugh Edward Wickliffe and Mable Louise Adams in Benton, Saline County, Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1958 and served with the 5th Special Forces Group (Company B, Detachment A-245) as a radio operator, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class.
On August 3, 1967, during the siege of Dak Seang in Kon Tum Province, South Vietnam, John was killed in an ambush by North Vietnamese Army forces. His body was recovered the following day by troops from the ARVN 8th Airborne Battalion. He was just 27 years old and left behind a wife and a child.
Thank you, Cousin John, for your service and your sacrifice. Your courage will never be forgotten.
Photo submitted by Janna Hoehn to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's Wall of Faces.
This Memorial Day, take a moment to remember those who never came home.
Who will you be honoring this Memorial Day?
