It's the Brian Laira show on WNYC. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for tuning in on Memorial Day.

Later in the show, we'll re-air some recent segments that we think you'll enjoy or find relevant to this holiday this year.

But we'll start with something brand new for today with our friend, the historian, Kenneth C. Davis.

It's a 2026 look at what this Memorial Day holiday is about and where it came from.

Of course, it's the unofficial start of the summer season,

but for anyone who was lost family members or friends in war,

it is a day for remembering their sacrifice, of course,

on behalf of all of us.

Traditionally, it's to honor members of the armed forces

who have died in battle.

I always also think of it as to honor the

civilians who've been killed by whatever nation's armies are fighting each other. And can we even

be sad for service members from enemy armies killed in war? Is that a step too far? Even if the

wars were just, even if killing them was in self-defense, those individuals,

they are also human beings who in most cases lost their lives by physical conflict

when their leaders couldn't settle things peacefully.

And of course, this year has been no exception.

To talk about the history and meaning of Memorial Day,

we're joined once again by historian Kenneth C. Davis.

Ken, despite knowing a lot about history,

is the author of the Don't Know Much About History,

series of books,

...