By Retired Lt. Col. MARK LESLIE
Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security
FORT JOHNSON, La. — The idea of Memorial Day — or “Decoration Day,” as it was initially called — began after the Civil War to honor Americans from both the North and South who lost their lives in this terrible struggle. Various dates in the months of April and May were used and multiple cities claimed to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, but it is generally accepted that the first major observance occurred at Arlington National Cemetery May 30, 1868.
For a while, this day remained an exclusive reminder of those who lost their lives in the Civil War, but after World War I, the day was expanded to honor those who died in all American wars....
This video was created to further explain Fort Johnson's Giant Voice warning system, which activates when a tornado is detected within a 5-10 mile radius of the installation. The video is part of an initiative to inform the public during severe weather.
This video was created in Adobe Premiere Pro. (U.S. Army video by Porsha Auzenne)