I posted this last year but would like to share it with you once again in honor of those who continue to serve to keep our country free.
Today is a day to give our men that served in the Armed Services and gave their lives for the safety of our nation some remembrance.
Going back to the beginning of the yearly, what we now see as a holiday, began as
Decoration Day.
Beginning back on 1864, a Mississippi ladies group began decorating graves of the Civil War fallen. On April 25,1866 a ladies group from Columbus,MS decorated the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers to help begin the healing process of the past war.
It wasn't until 1868 that a specific remembrance was declared. (www.suvcw.org/gar.htm)Commander in Chief John A. Logan credited his wife,Mary, with implementing the commemoration.
In 1882 the name Memorial Day took the place of the original Decoration Day. May 30th was the day set aside initially . Then in 1971, President Nixon declared that it will be celebrated at the federal level on the last Monday of May, thus our present day off work for some. As time goes on it seems that our interpretation of national holidays in commemoration of lives given by our Fathers, Brothers, Uncles, Cousins and friends are not being observed for its original intent. Maybe unless it touches us directly we don't fathom what it means.
Just a few tidbits of information on how our country instituted the Memorial Day holiday.
A holiday that still remains as a day set aside for bringing back the memories of lives lost in the protection of the idea of Freedom...
I posted this last year but would like to share it with you once again in honor of those who continue to serve to keep our country free.
Today is a day to give our men that served in the Armed Services and gave their lives for the safety of our nation some remembrance.
Going back to the beginning of the yearly, what we now see as a holiday, began as Decoration Day.
Beginning back on 1864, a Mississippi ladies group began decorating graves of the Civil War fallen. On April 25,1866 a ladies group from Columbus,MS decorated the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers to help begin the healing process of the past war.
It wasn't until 1868 that a specific remembrance was declared. (www.suvcw.org/gar.htm)Commander in Chief John A. Logan credited his wife,Mary, with implementing the commemoration.
In 1882 the name Memorial Day took the place of the original Decoration Day. May 30th was the day set aside initially . Then in 1971, President Nixon declared that it will be celebrated at the federal level on the last Monday of May, thus our present day off work for some. As time goes on it seems that our interpretation of national holidays in commemoration of lives given by our Fathers, Brothers, Uncles, Cousins and friends are not being observed for its original intent. Maybe unless it touches us directly we don't fathom what it means.
Just a few tidbits of information on how our country instituted the Memorial Day holiday.
A holiday that still remains as a day set aside for bringing back the memories of lives lost in the protection of the idea of Freedom...
3 comments:
A great post! Your point about folks not really understanding what the day stands for-and what the exact sacrifice that has been made for us-is right on.
Good information. Yes people forget what the day was really set aside for. We did put flowers on teh grave of one of our beloved departed but that is because he so honored all who had gone before him when he was alive. He had not served in any arm of the service, but we honor his tradition. I kind of look at it that we can honor those who have not served on any of the other 364 days of the year! To others it has become just anther day off of work. I have always also disliked that they moved the date. All for convenience. So reminders like your blog are good.
Just my thoughts.
Tipper - Thank you for your comment. These men who have given of their lives,whether they have passed or still remain deserve to recieve honor.
Deb - We do have those who render "honor" as part of their duty to the soldiers who actively fought, or to those who continue daily to walk the fields and streets of war. It is a good thing to bring rememberances so things won't fade away and be forgotten.
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