Map Monday... Memorial Maps

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer for many people, but we can never forget the men and women who died in service to our country. Memorial Day is about service to something much greater than self. Today, we live the lives we lead, with the freedoms we enjoy, in the places we want because of the sacrifices of those we honor today. Our present exists because of their loss. We will never know all of them, or all of their stories, or of their families who were forever impacted by the loss of a son or daughter, or father or mother.

But we can and should continue to honor those who have lost their lives in service to our country as well as all of those who have served. The US Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration has a Nationwide Gravesite Locator (also available as a mobile web site (https://m.va.gov/)) that provides a way to look up the gravesite of many veterans. For many that are buried in National Cemeteries, you can get a map of the cemetery with their name, section and site. Arlington National Cemetery has gone a a step further with great web mapping service https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/ that allows shows you the exact location of the gravesite on a map as well as picture of their monument.

If you happen to be watching an Audie Murphy movie on Memorial Day you can see the location of his gravesite and the WWII Medal of Honor winner's monument. (See below)

Enjoy the Memorial Day holiday, and never forget those who sacrificed their lives for our country. I think Abraham Lincoln said it best as he concluded the Gettysburg address:

...we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.