Congress passed the National Monument of Remembrance Act, dictating that you should pause at 3p.m. to remember the soldiers who have died in combat. The story goes that someone got the idea when some children touring Washington D.C. were asked what Memorial Day is, and one child answered, "That's the day the pool opens." Realizing that people thought of it more as a day of barbecues, blockbuster movie releases and, apparently, pool openings than a day to honor the soldiers who died for our country, Congress decided to pass a law specifically reminding us what the holiday is all about. They chose that time because it's when they felt Americans were most enjoying the freedom provided by those soldiers who died defending our country.
Of course, the law hasn't done all that much to change our behavior. There'll probably be more people eating hotdogs than observing a moment of silence at 3p.m. across the country today, but hey, what's a more American freedom to celebrate than that one?
