As we commemorate our fallen soldiers this Memorial Day, let us not forget the history that led to this day. What we now celebrate as Memorial Day, can be traced back to May 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC when newly freed Blacks and troops came together to provide a befitting funeral
and honor the 257 Union soldiers that died as a result of the poor conditions in the Confederate Prison camps during the war.
As we pay our respects to our fallen veterans and pray for their families, we must also acknowledge that our country is mourning the deaths of over 100,000 Americans from COVID-19.
Of those, a significant number are Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans. However, without the full racial data report from the CDC, the full magnitude of this health crisis on these communities is still unknown.
This Memorial Day, let us carry all of those we have lost to COVID-19 as well as our fallen veterans in our hearts. May they all rest in peace. 
