Union Veterans Council Memorial Day Message and Toolkit

Memorial Day 2022 is quickly approaching. We're reaching out today to let you know about some resources the Union Veterans Council has created for you to use throughout the holiday weekend.

Before that, though, we wanted to take a moment and provide you with some background on Memorial Day and what it means to us at the Union Veterans Council. First, stated as plainly as possible: Memorial Day isn't Veterans Day, and the day is not just for people who were in the military. Secondly, you might wonder why memorial day is so important to the labor movement? With over 1 Million active working military veterans in unions, every union has members who have served in the military. Not only does that strengthen our connection to the day, so do the countless parents, spouses, children, and friends who are union members that have lost someone while serving our country.

Memorial Day began in the years following the U.S. Civil War and is set aside specifically for those who were killed in action while in uniform. It's a solemn, sacred day, and it should be treated as such. No, that doesn't mean one shouldn't go to a cookout or spend time with their friends and loved ones on the water. In fact, it's entirely appropriate to do those types of things, as long as one takes a moment to remember those who no longer have such opportunities.

To me, as a combat Infantry Veteran who served at the height of the Iraq war, Memorial day is incredibly personal. For the last five years, I have visited Section 60 at Arlington national cemetery, I spend the morning reflecting on the dozens of friends I lost in combat and the dozens more I have lost due to suicide and sickness since we have returned home. But then, like many other veterans like me, I celebrate. I celebrate the lives of my friends who will never have that chance again.

Sample Social

The Union Veterans Council will be amplifying social content throughout Memorial Day. We're using the hashtag #HonorTheirSacrifice. Examples include:

• For Veterans [NAME] served in the [BRANCH OF SERVICE] and is a proud member of [local name and number or labor body]. S/he/they recorded this video about what Memorial Day means to him/her/them (more on this below).
• Today we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. We honor them today and every day. #HonorTheirSacrifice
• Today members of [local name and number or labor body] came together to [insert project] to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. #HonorTheirSacrifice

Graphics

Honor Their Sacrifice (Facebook)

Honor Their Sacrifice (Instagram)

Service Through Sacrifice (Facebook)

Service Through Sacrifice (Instagram)

Past Union Veterans Council Memorial Day Messaging

Memorial Day 2021: Honoring U.S. Military Personnel Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

Memorial Day 2018: Memorial Day Is About Respect and Remembrance

Memorial Day 2015: Today, We Pause And Remember

Recording a Video

The Union Veterans Council will post videos during and in the wake of Memorial Day, highlighting the voices of union veterans and union members.

To help:

• Identify a veteran willing to talk about Memorial Day and what it means to them
• Veteran logs on to UVC's video capture tool Capsule HERE, and clicks "Record a Video," which will allow for uploading directly to UVC or downloading for personal use by themselves or their local organization.
• Veterans create a video (30-55 seconds) in which they identify themselves, where they're from, and explain what Memorial Day means to them

Community Services Project

The Union Veterans Council will catalog projects performed by union members during Memorial Day weekend and highlight them: Examples include:

• Cleaning a veterans memorial and/or park in your community
• Laying a wreath at a veterans' memorial and/or cemetery

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William (Will) AttigExecutive Director Union Veterans Council AFL-CIO[email protected] Office 202-637-5233Cell 202-251-6773

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.