Happy Memorial Day 2025
As Memorial Day arrives once again, many of us mark the unofficial start of summer with backyard barbecues, weekend getaways, and time spent with family and friends. But beyond the festivities, this day holds a far deeper meaning.
Originally known as Decoration Day and established after the Civil War, Memorial Day became a national holiday in 1971. Yet from its earliest days to now, its purpose remains the same: to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States Armed Forces. It is a solemn reminder of the price of freedom—paid in full by those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Many of our customers know that Imbue Botanicals proudly grows and crafts our products in Colorado. But some may not realize that our offices are based in the stunning desert oasis of Palm Springs, California—just off the main runway of Palm Springs International Airport, a major gateway to this vibrant resort city.
I first made Palm Springs my home in the winter of 1997, just months after the Palm Springs Air Museum opened its doors with two hangars dedicated to aviation history. Situated across the airfield from our office, the museum stands as a living tribute to the city’s role as a key pilot training center during World War II.
Over the past 25+ years, the museum has grown into a world-renowned institution, now home to more than 70 restored aircraft from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War—including the awe-inspiring F-117 Nighthawk added in 2022.
Every year on Memorial Day, the museum hosts a moving tribute that never fails to stir the heart. A World War II-era B-25 bomber takes to the sky and releases 3,000 red and white carnations—each one symbolizing a fallen American hero. Warbirds fly the iconic “missing man” formation in the skies above, a powerful gesture of remembrance.
The white carnations honor those lost in earlier conflicts—World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam—while the red flowers represent lives lost in more recent wars, including the Persian Gulf, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It's a breathtaking, emotional spectacle that underscores the true significance of this day.
Though this Memorial Day finds me far from Palm Springs—traveling in another country—my heart is very much at home, thinking of those courageous Americans who laid down their lives for our nation and our freedoms. I know my colleagues back in the desert will be listening for the deep, resonant hum of vintage warplanes overhead and watching the skies fill with red and white petals drifting down like a sacred snowfall.
From all of us at Imbue Botanicals, we wish you a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day 2025.
With gratitude and respect,
The Imbue Team
