Memorial Day, a chance for families and friends to camp, drag out the grill, and take that long anticipated fishing trip. For others the holiday is an opportunity to spend an additional night on the town clubbing and Monday buying out the Mall. For most of us Memorial Day holiday is simply a rare and deserved 3-day respite from work that occurs between the long winter and Labor Day in September.

At least that’s how I used to see Memorial Day up until two years ago. Back in 2007 I found myself in Portland, Oregon browsing for books at Powell’s Books. It’s one of those bookstores where, if you are a book lover, you don’t dare take your credit card. I was on the hunt for a book on the Abolitionist Movement in the United States. I had been making the argument in presentations that those working both to secure immigrant rights in the United States and defeat the anti-immigrant movement were the descendants of the early Abolition Movement.

The Abolitionist Movement was made up of Blacks being held as chattel slaves, Blacks who had escaped, free Blacks, and whites who were committed to overturning what was called the “Peculiar Institution” of chattel slavery. I was curious what lessons the book Bound for Canaan might offer to us today and I know that Powell’s would be sure to have it.

It was in the Civil War section of Powell’s that I learned another important lesson. While perusing books I found that Memorial Day was a holiday celebrated first by African Americans and only later did it become a national holiday. The celebration called “Dedication Day” eventually became known as Memorial Day. It is significant history that would be lost if not for the work of Professor David W. Bright of Yale University.

The first Memorial Day was celebrated by newly freed Africans in Charleston, South Carolina in 1865. Over 10,000 Blacks came together to give a proper funeral to those Union soldiers who gave their lives to the destruction of slavery in the United States. The actions of the newly freed Africans (not yet citizens) was profound in that they were willing to risk their emerging power by honoring those who fought and died for a common goal. For those celebrating the first Memorial Day these Union soldiers represented all who worked for emancipation. Their stories needed to be honored.

One hundred and forty-four years after the first Memorial Day I hope that those of us working to strengthen civil rights and democracy by defending the dignity of immigrants and refugees take the time to remember our stories of bravery as well.

It could be the story of Barbara, an African American woman, who came to the aid of immigrant workers in Laurel, Mississippi after a processing plant was raided by Immigration Custom and Enforcement. Barbara didn’t speak Spanish but knew that she had to open her doors to defend the soul of her community. Or perhaps it is the story of Tom from Greeley, Colorado who lost his position as Mayor because he dared to speak up publicly against the ripping apart of families when federal enforcement officers detained 262 residents of his community.

On this day I can’t help but to think of Robert who, responding to an immigrant raid in Bedford, New Haven, spent $200,000 of his personal money to provide bail to immigrants in his community who had been arrested and moved far away to Houston, Texas. Part of that money was used to help the families with rent and food. Barbara, Tom and Robert represent the stories of thousands of immigrants and non-immigrants around the United States who choose not to remain silent in the face of adversity and intolerance.

What makes each of them special is that each of them stood up neither for reward nor fear of punishment. They choose to stand against inequality because it’s the right thing to do. Today, let’s remember them. This is after all the essence of Memorial Day.