By: Brian T. Kelly

As we honor those who came before us this Memorial Day, I find myself reflecting on the unbroken chain of service that stretches back more than 250 years.

Memorial Day is our nation’s solemn tradition of honoring the uniformed servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving. It has its roots in the “Decoration Days” adopted by Union states after the Civil War, but servicemembers sacrificed for our future freedoms long before that.

Capt. Isaac Davis led a company of Minutemen from his village of Acton, Mass., into what would be known as the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775. He was 30 years old when he was struck and killed by a British musket ball. He’s recognized as the first American officer to fall during the Revolutionary War. He left behind his wife and four children.