Memorial Day 2024

Once called Decoration Day just after the Civil War, the day became Memorial Day, in the 1960s. It became official: after all the Civil War veterans were gone.

It was originally slated for the 30th of May as there were no actual battles fought on that day and it was a time of year when many flowers would be available to decorate the graves of the fallen.. As we know it was moved to the last Monday in May so as to provide a three day weekend. 

It is always a little odd for me as I am not sure just how I feel about that. I get the idea but it does seem that the original purpose, to honor our war dead has been usurped by the pool openings, cook outs and the "official state of summer."

 

There has been a more recent effort (2000) to get people to take a single minute, usually at 3 pm, to remember, Called "The National Moment of Remembrance."

Another interesting fact is that the flag is flown at half mast until noon on Memorial Day and then raised to its full height for the remainder of the day. This is the only day of the year that this happens.

It is always interesting to hear how people speak to each other on the most solemn of days. You actually hear some folks, certainly with good intent, says things like "happy memorial Day!" A more appropriate greeting might be along the lines of "Enjoy the holiday, but I will be remembering and honoring those who gave their all for our country."

I've also read that some folks like to say "thank you for your service " to veterans on this day, but I have read research that says that most vets do not like this and that what many hear is something along the lines of "I'm glad you went (to war), so that I didn't have to!"

So, as I say every year, have your cook outs, pool openings etc, but, please take that moment to remember those who cannot celebrate, but instead gave their lives for our country, over 600,000 from WWI onward. If you happen to be in DC this weekend, check out the 600,000 Poppy wall near the Vietnam memorial.

We will return to visiting Vietnam memorials after the "holiday." Join me in Arizona, as always at 9:00 am on June 1.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Memorial Day 2023

Commemorating those lost in battle can be traced to 361 BC. in Greece following the Pelopennesian Wars.

Here in America what later became Memorial Day began just after the Civil War, was expanded to include all soldiers lost after WWI and didn't become a national holiday until nearly the end of the Vietnam war. (1971)

When I was a boy, people handed out poppies to commemorate the dead, due in large part to the following poem. Written be a surgeon during WWI, the poem came to speak for so many.

I include it here, for you today.

 

 In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow 

Between the crosses, row on row,     

That mark our place; and in the sky     

The larks, still bravely singing, 

fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

We are the Dead. 

Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,     

Loved and were loved, 

and now we lie,         

In Flanders fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe: 

To you from failing hands we throw     

The torch; be yours to hold it high.    

If ye break faith with us who die 

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow         

In Flanders fields.

There is a hill just opposite my home that is covered with poppies each spring, I never fail to think of the lost each time I drive by it.

Remember, today at 3pm, to take on minute to honor those who were lost in our wars.

Next time, on the 3rd, we will return to Texas, so join me there, as always at 9:00am.

To see Vietnam memorials from any state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. 

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks.

Memorial Day 2022

This weekend, as we gather with friends and family to celebrate Memorial Day, let us not forget the reason. Memorial Day began after the Civil War, as Decoration Day, and has gone through a number of changes over the years. What does not change is the devastating price paid by the few for so many. I found this sign in Heck Park in Monroe County, Michigan. I have written about the Park in previous posts, but I wanted to post this image on this day, May 29. Tomorrow is the original Memorial Day and even though we celebrate it, now, on the last Monday in May, May 30 will always be the "real" memorial day for many of us. This year, 2022, we happen to have the dates sync up correctly. The sign is old enough that nothing after Vietnam has been included, but it still delivers a sobering message even if the years of our involvement in 'nam are off by nearly 10.

Take a minute today to remember and read a fascinating history of Memorial Day at;

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html  

Also, it seems that Rolling to Remember (formerly Rolling Thunder) is alive and well and making a strong comeback in D.C. this weekend.

I just read that, now, 40 years after it was built, the The Wall is still the number 1 tourist attraction in Washington DC  visited by five million people a year.

Welcome brothers and sisters!

Next time, on the 3rd of June, we will revisit Arizona, so join me then at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials, from any state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Memorial Day 2020

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." JFK.

The following is a repost of one written in 2013. I think it is still appropriate and needs not to be changed or explained. the original post had only one pic of flags, few new pics have been added.

The practice of decorating the graves of soldiers is an ancient one. The origins of Decoration Day, as it was first called, has a long and varied history in the United States. Decorating the graves of fallen soldiers was practiced at different times, in various ways, sometimes depending on what part of the country one resided.

Around the time of the Civil War, the practice became more common and legend has it that the first observance happened in Virginia in1861. There is actual documentation of a ceremony in Georgia in 1862.

The first National Decoration Day was proclaimed in 1868 and events were held in 183 cemeterys in 27 states. Remember that a number of states were still territorys and not admitted to the Union for quite some years. An interesting fact is that the first Memorial Day Parade was held in Irontown, Ohio in that year and has been held every year since.

As time moved on the day became about honoring any one who had died in service and still later to remembering anyone who was lost in any way.

The name "Memorial Day",  was first used in 1882 and became more common after the second World War.  The change was not made official until 1967. A year later the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passes and May 30th was no longer the official date of the remembrance.

Over the many years this day has gone from honoring our war dead to a beginning of summer celebration, so as you enjoy the long weekend, take just a moment to remember all of those who have given up their lives in defense of our country. Regardless of our feelings about any specific war, those we remember made a sacrifice that we who are celebrating did not have to make and if we don't remember fewer and fewer may be willing to serve.

Next time, on the 28th, we will revisit Ireland, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see post from any state in the Union please click on a state name on the left side of this page.

Memorial Day 2013

The practice of decorating the graves of soldiers is an ancient one. The origins of Decoration Day, as it was first called, has a long and varied history in the United States. Decorating the graves of fallen soldiers was practiced at different times, in various ways, sometimes depending on what part of the country one resided.

Around the time of the Civil War, the practice became more common and legend has it that the first observance happened in Virginia in1861. There is actual documentation of a ceremony in Georgia in 1862.

The first National Decoration Day was proclaimed in 1868 and events were held in 183 cemeterys in 27 states. Remember that a number of states were still territorys and not admitted to the Union for quite some years. An interesting fact is that the first Memorial Day Parade was held in Irontown, Ohio in that year and has been held every year since.

As time moved on the day became about honoring any one who had died in service and still later to remembering anyone who was lost in any way.

The name "Memorial Day",  was first used in 1882 and became more common after the second World War.  The change was not made official until 1967. A year later the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passes and May 30th was no longer the official date of the remembrance.

Over the many years this day has gone from honoring our war dead to a beginning of summer celebration, so as you enjoy the long weekend, take just a moment to remember all of those who have given up their lives in defense of our country. Regardless of our feelings about any specific war, those we remember made a sacrifice that we who are celebrating did not have to make and if we don't remember fewer and fewer may be willing to serve.

On the first of June we visit a small memorial to Meal Of Honor awardees in Omaha. Join me there at 9:00am