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Next, an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.
下面是一篇反映美國理想和風俗的社論。
On the last Monday in May, Americans honor those who have fallen in defense of the country and of its ideals.
五月的最後一個星期一，美國人會向那些為保衛國家和理想而犧牲的人致敬。
It is a solemn day, this Observance on which we gather to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and to pay them homage.
這個紀念日是個莊嚴的日子，我們會聚在一起，緬懷那些為我們最初最終犧牲的人，並向他們表示敬意。
The occasion, originally called Decoration Day, began in Illinois in May 1868,
這個紀念日最初叫做裝飾日，始於1868年的伊利諾斯州。
when General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, a local organization of civil war veterans, proclaimed the Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers.
約翰·亞歷山大·洛根少將隸屬於共和國大軍，一個由內戰退伍軍人組成的地方組織，他當時宣布裝飾日是全國人民用鮮花裝飾聯合戰爭死難者墳墓的日子。
The purpose of the remembrance, he said, was to cherish 「tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes.」
他說，紀念的目的是去「深切地緬懷我們英勇的死難者，他們用自己的胸膛成為我們國家和敵人之間的屏障。」
The practice spread throughout the country, and in 1966, the name was changed to Memorial Day and at the same time, it became a federal holiday.
這種做法風行全國，並在1966年更名為陣亡將士紀念日，同時，它也成為聯邦假日。
And so on every Memorial Day, small flags and bouquets of colorful flowers spring up on headstones and memorial plaques in cemeteries all over the country, decorating the graves of military heroes.
所以在每年的陣亡將士紀念日，全國各地的公墓的墓碑和紀念匾上會冒出小旗和花束，來裝飾軍人英雄的墳墓。
Every one of these decorations represents a member of the military who died protecting his or her country and what it stands for.
每個這樣的裝飾都代表著一個為保護國家而犧牲的軍人，它代表著什麼。
They died defending a way of life, and values they believed in, and the honor they earned by their sacrifice abides with them forever.
他們為一種生活方式和他們所信仰的價值觀而犧牲，他們因犧牲而贏得的榮譽永遠與他們同在。
It is often said that as long as we are remembered, we remain alive.
人們常說，只要我們被記住，我們就活著。
Thus, on Memorial Day, we recognize the valiant efforts of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who put the country and what it stands for, before themselves.
因此，在陣亡將士紀念日，我們讚揚數十萬男女做出的勇敢的努力，他們把國家和代表的東西擺在自己前面。
They remain with us in spirit, and every Memorial Day, we honor and dignify their offering.
他們的精神與我們同在，每年的陣亡將士紀念日，我們尊重並尊重他們的奉獻。
On every Memorial Day, a grateful nation remembers its heroes, and recognizes that lives and blood lost in defense of its freedoms are never given in vain.
每年的陣亡將士紀念日，一個心存感激的國家會緬懷它的英雄，並認可為捍衛自由而犧牲的生命和鮮血不會白費。
That was an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.
本報導是一篇反映美國理想和風俗的社論。
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