Memorial Day is right around the corner. While most of us view that three-day holiday weekend as a great time to gather with family and friends for a BBQ, maybe hit the lake, do a little camping, and basically just relax for a few days and begin to celebrate the unofficial start to summer.

But in reality, we all know that Memorial Day weekend has a far deeper, much more important meaning.

Memorial Day itself, is a day set aside each year on the last Monday in May for all of us to honor the millions of Americans who tragically lost their lives while serving our country. It's a time to reflect on all those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I can enjoy the freedoms this great country provides each and every one of us every single day.

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For several years now here in the United States, we have ramped up to the Memorial Day holiday with something called "Red Poppy Day."

The website Legion.org reminds us that the poppy became the official flower of the American Legion in September of 1920, and starting in 1924 the American Legion family began to distribute poppy flowers throughout the country to Americans in an effort to memorialize soldiers who fought and died during wartime.

Traditionally each year on the last Friday before Memorial Day, the American Legion encourages all Americans to wear a red poppy flower to help honor the fallen and support the living who have worn and continue to wear our nation's uniform.

This year here in Sioux Falls, Mayor Paul TenHaken has decided to declare Saturday, (May 20) as Poppy Day. And according to Dakota News Now, the plan that day is to distribute red poppies from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM to anyone who wants one at a number of different locations throughout the city.

Residents here in the Sioux Empire can claim their red poppies that day at places like:

HyVee 26th & Marion
HyVee 57th & Cliff
HyVee 37th & Minnesota
Walmart 4lst & Louise
Walmart 85th & Minnesota
Lewis Drug 26th & Sycamore

This year, don't forget to wear your red poppy flower on Friday, (May 26) and do your part to honor the fallen and help support the living who serve our country.

Source: Dakota News Now/Legion.org

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