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Next, an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.

下面是一篇反映美国理想和风俗的社论。

On the last Monday in May, Americans honor those who have fallen in defense of the country and of its ideals.

五月的最后一个星期一，美国人会向那些为保卫国家和理想而牺牲的人致敬。

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.

这个纪念日是个庄严的日子，我们会聚在一起，缅怀那些为我们最初最终牺牲的人，并向他们表示敬意。

The occasion, originally called Decoration Day, began in Illinois in May 1868,

这个纪念日最初叫做装饰日，始于1868年的伊利诺斯州。

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.

约翰·亚历山大·洛根少将隶属于共和国大军，一个由内战退伍军人组成的地方组织，他当时宣布装饰日是全国人民用鲜花装饰联合战争死难者坟墓的日子。

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.”

他说，纪念的目的是去“深切地缅怀我们英勇的死难者，他们用自己的胸膛成为我们国家和敌人之间的屏障。”

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.

这种做法风行全国，并在1966年更名为阵亡将士纪念日，同时，它也成为联邦假日。

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.

所以在每年的阵亡将士纪念日，全国各地的公墓的墓碑和纪念匾上会冒出小旗和花束，来装饰军人英雄的坟墓。

Every one of these decorations represents a member of the military who died protecting his or her country and what it stands for.

每个这样的装饰都代表着一个为保护国家而牺牲的军人，它代表着什么。

They died defending a way of life, and values they believed in, and the honor they earned by their sacrifice abides with them forever.

他们为一种生活方式和他们所信仰的价值观而牺牲，他们因牺牲而赢得的荣誉永远与他们同在。

It is often said that as long as we are remembered, we remain alive.

人们常说，只要我们被记住，我们就活着。

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，在阵亡将士纪念日，我们赞扬数十万男女做出的勇敢的努力，他们把国家和代表的东西摆在自己前面。

They remain with us in spirit, and every Memorial Day, we honor and dignify their offering.

他们的精神与我们同在，每年的阵亡将士纪念日，我们尊重并尊重他们的奉献。

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.

每年的阵亡将士纪念日，一个心存感激的国家会缅怀它的英雄，并认可为捍卫自由而牺牲的生命和鲜血不会白费。

That was an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.

本报道是一篇反映美国理想和风俗的社论。