Tag Archives: Memorial Day

MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR A HISTORY LESSON: DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GET NEXT MONDAY OFF?

 Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer.

The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history, requiring the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.  Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time. It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. Decoration Day On May 5, 1862, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month.

“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

Many Northern states held similar commemorative events and reprised the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Many Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I.  Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War.  However, during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday. 

Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. Americans also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials.

Veterans who survived the war or wars in which they served, deserve to be taken care of.  They should be at the top of any list, whether it’s healthcare, physical therapy, or other needs.  Any way that you can help a veteran by finding him/her a job, or any assistance they may need would be a big help in showing your appreciation for their service to our country.  Hire a Vet if you are a business person.

We all need to say “Thank you for your service” when we see anyone in the military.  I recently told a young man I had met that I appreciated his six years of Army service, both in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He responded “Thank you for your support.”  It made me feel ashamed that I haven’t done more to support our troops.  Let’s all show our gratitude for our warriors.

Source: History.com

 

 

Source: History.com

“CLICK IT OR TICKET” CAMPAIGN KICKED OFF MAY 21ST

  • If you asked for those in a room to raise their hand if they are guilty of not always fastening their seat belts, I would have to comply!  Just because of living in a small town, it is certainly not an excuse for failing to wear my seat belt.  So help me, I promise I will click it every time I get behind the wheel, from now on!  Our three grandchildren were so well trained that they wouldn’t allow anyone to start the motor until they were safely fastened in their seats.  Two of them are driving now, and the other is five.  It has been such a great experience to see that it became a habit of safe riding naturally, and we thank their parents for teaching them.

Click It or Ticket Campaign began Monday, May 21st, and will continue through June 3rd, coinciding with the Memorial Day holiday.  If you plan to travel this week-end, it is a good idea to fasten those seat belts, and observe speed limits if you want to get home without a high-dollar souvenir from your friendly Department of Public Safety troopers.

 

 

 

 

 

With larger volumes of traffic anticipated on our roads and highways,  we want every motorist to know the importance of buckling up while driving or riding in a motor vehicle.  The theme for this year’s campaign is simple: “Always focus on your driving and be certain that everyone riding in the vehicle is buckled up every trip, every time.”  It only takes two seconds to buckle a seat belt and this injury-reducing and life-saving task should be an automatic practice for everyone riding inside a motor vehicle.  And, as always, please let one of your passengers take care of the cell phone – don’t let distracted driving cost your life or anyone else’s.  Don’t drink and drive or drive under the influence of drugs.  Let’s keep our highways safe.

Have a safe Memorial Day, and don’t forget to honor our fallen heroes of past and present wars.  It is the beginning of summer vacations that we all look forward to, however, we must always remember those who gave their lives for us.  One more thing to consider:  Thanksgiving is a day when we pause to give thanks for the things we have; Memorial Day is a day when we pause to give thanks to those who fought for what we have.

Have a safe and happy summer, and drive friendly!

 

EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY

The custom of honoring the graves of the war dead began before the end of the Civil War, but the national Memorial Day holiday (or “Decoration Day,” as it was originally named) was first observed on May 30, 1868, on the order of General John Alexander Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead. As time passed, Memorial Day was extended to honor all those who died in service to the nation, from the Revolutionary War to the present. It continued to be observed on May 30th until 1971, when most states changed to a newly established federal schedule of holiday observance.

Every day should be Memorial Day.  More than 260,000 persons who served our country are buried at Arlington Cemetery, officially designated as a military cemetery by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, June 15, 1864.  There are also four courts that hold up to 5,000 niches each for cremated remains of military personnel.

The Tomb of the Unknowns holds three unidentified soldiers – a World War I soldier interred in 1921, World War II soldier interred in 1958, and a soldier from the Korean Conflict also interred in 1958.  In 1984, a soldier from the Viet Nam War was interred there; however his remains were disinterred in 1998, and identified and buried near his home.  That tomb will remain empty.  The 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) began sentry of the Tomb of the Unknowns April 6, 1948, 24 hours per day, 365 days per week.

We salute all the veterans who have served our country in past wars, and those men and women who bravely serve us today in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the world.  Thanks to them, we can celebrate our freedom and safety every day.