I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. The last weekend in May symbolizes the kick-off to summer. Some of us enjoyed cookouts, parades, the Indy 500, swimming and just relaxing with family and friends. However, we need to remember what the true meaning is behind Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is an annual American tradition observed on the last Monday of May. This day honors the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. This holiday originated in the years following the Civil War and was then known as Decoration Day.
The Civil War ended in 1865 and claimed more lives than any other conflict in U.S. history. Our country’s first national cemeteries were established due to all the blood shed from this horrific war. From then on, communities throughout the United States used the month of May to memorialize the loss of their loved ones that so bravely died fighting on the battlefield.
Up until World War I, America only honored those lost fighting in the Civil War. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May to memorialize all Americans who bravely fought and died in all wars.
As the chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety, it is my responsibility to find solutions to help Hoosier veterans and their families. During my time as chair, we have passed several measures helping veterans including those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
To help protect war memorials around the state, I supported a new law this year allowing local governments to transfer ownership of these memorials and monuments to non-profit organizations who will see to their maintenance and upkeep, such as veterans groups or the Boy Scouts. By allowing these collaborative arrangements, we can prevent memorials dedicated to fallen Hoosier heroes from slipping in disrepair.
Some Hoosier veterans pass away without any family members to make funeral arrangements for them, so last year we created a set of standards for the unclaimed remains of the deceased.
Another measure I worked on doubled the amount of funding dedicated to the funeral expenses for Indiana National Guard members who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
These are just a couple of laws in the last few years the General Assembly passed to honor the those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation. Always remember that freedom is not free, and that every day is a day to honor our fallen heroes.
As always, please contact me with questions or input at 317-234-3827 or by email at h67@iga.in.gov. I appreciate hearing from you in order to better represent our district. Stay up-to-date with the work being done at the Statehouse by signing up to receive my email updates at www.in.gov/h67.
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Rep. Frye (R-Greensburg) represents Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties, as well as portions of Decatur, Jennings, Jefferson and Dearborn counties.
A high-resolution photo of Frye can be downloaded by clicking here.
