San Rafael, CA - “Millions enjoy the Memorial Day holiday; unfortunately, its true meaning and what it really symbolizes is much too easily forgotten,” Assembly Member Huffman (D-San Rafael) said today.

Assemblymember Huffman (D-San Rafael) knows that while nobody needs to remind Californians to celebrate Memorial Day, he urges them to make a special effort this year to remember what the holiday is really about, with more military personnel having lost their lives over the past four years than any time since Vietnam.

“Memorial Day is the first important holiday of the summer, but all too often it becomes nothing more than a time for festivities like picnics and barbecues, hot dogs and softball games and a rationale for special sales at the mall.”

The deeper relevance of Memorial Day will be celebrated with special services held in cemeteries across America, parades down Main Street USA and speakers recalling the heroic deeds of brave men and women, many long gone but never forgotten. Taps will be played; honor guards will perform, and countless eulogies will be delivered on behalf of soldiers, sailors, Marines, fliers, those guarding our coastlines and others who died defending democracy and the American way of life.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans will visit war memorials all across the country to remember those brave men and women. Many will visit national memorials that honor the men and women who took part in the battles to protect and keep America free.

“Giving thanks to all the brave men and women who helped protect America and our democratic way of life is what Memorial Day is about,” the San Rafael lawmaker stated.

“It is important and appropriate that we annually conduct these tributes in recognition of our departed servicemen and servicewomen. We must always remember and honor these brave individuals with the dignity and the respect they so richly deserve, especially at a time when so many young men and women are still putting their lives on the line in countries far away from their homes and families,” Huffman said.