Cuomo calls for non-service members who fought COVID-19 to be honored on Memorial Day

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo drew scrutiny Monday after he called for the public to honor COVID-19 essential workers on Memorial Day, the federal holiday traditionally reserved for honoring fallen military servicemembers.

"It takes a special person to run into a fire to save someone," the governor added. "It takes a special person, when every instinct in your body says that’s dangerous, don’t go there, run away, it takes a special person to say, no, I’m going in because I think I can help someone. The essential workers did that day after day after day after day." Cuomo said that flags throughout the state would be flown at half-staff during Memorial Day Weekend in remember of essential workers who died during the coronavirus pandemic. State landmarks will be illuminated red, white and blue. Memorial Day has been celebrated since the late 1800s and was established as a federal holiday in 1971. Several social media users responded to Cuomo’s post arguing that the holiday should be reserved for military service members who died in the line of duty.