The Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC) joins with other organizations and institutions in commemorating Memorial Day 2026 in the United States of America. We express sincere gratitude to all who served in the military services to defend the nation and made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as to medical, police, fire, and essential front-line workers who risk their lives to save others. We also salute all volunteers, advocates, and supporters who provide materials, resources, and services to those in need at crucial times of natural disasters and the consequences of violence.
While we commemorate Memorial Day 2026, we are immensely grieved by the increasing levels of violence nationwide, wanton killings in schools and in neighborhoods, increasing levels of attacks on others because of race, religion, or ethnicity, and resorting to unprovoked attacks and violence to resolve disputes and conflicts. Memorial Day, observed annually on the last Monday of May, honors the men and women who died in military service to the United States. Originally known as Decoration Day following the Civil War in 1868, it was designated a national holiday by Congress in 1968.
In a proclamation marking Memorial Day on May 26, 2026, President Donald J. Trump honored the nation’s law enforcement personnel, paying tribute to their service and sacrifice, “All Americans inherit the glorious gift of liberty that has been purchased with the spilled blood of brave warriors and the tears and heartache of those they left behind. It is fitting and necessary for our Nation to pause for an annual reminder of the enduring and perilously high cost of freedom, but the immeasurable gravity of what has been sacrificed for the greater good deserves our eternal reverence and unwavering gratitude every day.” This statement underscores the administration’s emphasis on valor, duty, and the enduring sacrifices made by law enforcement officers in the United States.”
With reverence, remembrance, reflection, respect, and gratitude, we pay homage to all those in the US Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives, defending the freedoms and safety we enjoy and so dearly cherish. We also express gratitude for the extraordinary contributions of those who served and are serving in the US Armed Forces, as well as all in various branches of civilian law enforcement, firefighting, aviation, transportation, medical, auxiliary services, and community volunteer services. We are grateful for the enormous sacrifices made to maintain and advance freedom and liberty, which have universally made the USA a beacon of hope, refuge, and freedom for the persecuted and downtrodden. The USA’s efforts in promoting freedom exemplify the indomitable human spirit to choose and make decisions for “the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness”, and have inspired nations and individuals to advance their own struggles for freedom and human rights. We are hopeful that the USA will maintain its steadfast and vigilant role in the preservation of democracy and human rights globally.
The Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC) extends its heartfelt best wishes to the government and people of the United States of America. We commend their unwavering commitment to safeguarding freedom and liberty around the world, in close partnership with the global community, while ensuring the safety and well-being of their citizens at home, -Dr. Nicole Bissessar, Director of Community Cultural Affairs, Indian Diaspora Council