Memorial Day - Decoration Day...

[St. George]

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, which states -

"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. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."

It was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873, and by 1890 it was recognized by all of the Northern states.

The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).

It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays).

Several Southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the War Dead of the Confederacy.
 
Alabama: April 26
Georgia: April 26
Florida: April 26
Mississippi: April 26
North Carolina: May 10
South Carolina: May 10
Louisiana: June 3 (Jefferson Davis' Birthday)
Tennessee (Confederate Decoration Day): June 3
Texas (Confederate Heroes Day): January 19
Virginia: Last Monday in May

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day, and there is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War:

A hymn published in 1867 - "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" - by Nella L. Sweet  - carried this dedication:   "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" .

Remember the Fallen - not just from this war but from all of our wars.

The WWI poet - Lawrence Binyon - had this to say.

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them ... nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

We will remember them..."


Take a few minutes to clean their stones and if you can - leave some small remembrance.

They deserve this small recognition of the sacrifice they paid...

Vaya con Dios, acaso...

Scouts Out!

[Pony Soldier]

For the past several years the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs has put out a call to all veterans to bring back the decorations to decoration day by requesting that all veterans wear their medals/decorations on Memorial Day.  You earned them, wear them with pride and honor.  It is a great way for starting  a conversation, when someone asks you about your medals.  Let them know about your service to our nation.  Tell them to remember all of our brothers and sisters that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. 

                              ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL! 

[St. George]

At the time of inception - there were no 'decorations' in the military sense - the term was of the civilian custom of 'decorating' the graves of the war's dead with flower garlands and small plantings.

Back then - folks would meet to clean up the stones and the burial site and would make a day of it, with speeches and a picnic lunch spent graveside with their loved ones.

Like the rest of our commemorated days, it's turned into a three-four day weekend filled with sales and fun - and has strayed far afield from the original intent.

Outside of a dedicated few mourners - the cemetaries don't see any sort of that activity, when there's savings to be had...

In Europe, one sees veterans wearing both miniature and full-sized decorations - not so in America, as we don't have that tradition and never did, though we did wear Poppies for years as a remembrance of Armistice Day.

As to starting up a conversation with civilians - why would I want to do that?

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Pony Soldier]

SG, I must most respectfully disagree sir.  After the Civil War veterans would often on days of rememberance wear their association medals (ie GAR medals) and veterans of WWI often wore the medals that they earned.

Where I am from we still decorate the graves of all veterans in our county by placing flags at each and every grave.  We then hold 3 memorials.  One at our veteran's park which is located next to a river.  It is here where the gold star mothers cast flowers onto the waters to remember those who died at sea.  We then go the largest cemetary where we hold another memorial for those who past before us, to include a fly over by the Air National Guard (missing man formation).  And finally we hold another memorial at our local Veteran's Home so that those veterans not able to attend the other memorials, may pay their respects to their comrades.

And as for starting conversations with civilians, it is so that we have the opportunity to pass along why they should show respect on this day instead of just shopping or fishing.  After all our mission statment for the GAF states "We endeavor to honor the memories of achievements of all those individuals, great or humble, and the results they achieved while making both American and much of world history."  For if we fail to teach others of the importance of the service given them, and our brothers forgotten, then we are lost as a nation.

[St. George]

You need to put this into the perspective of the times when it was first conceived.

A 'decoration' implies an awarded medal for valor - something that didn't come about until well after the turn of the century, as did the Campaign Medals.

An 'association' medal is just that - a membership medal - and at the time, Lodge medals and Society medals were exceptionally popular, and membership was expected - 'especially' in the GAR and the UCV, if a man served.

For an idea of how many lodge/society medals were extant - look through one of the reprint 'Sears, Roebuck & Co.' catalogs and you'll be overwhelmed.

Locally, the Boy Scouts place flags on veteran's graves, but they continue to miss a hell of a lot of them when the stones are flat, though the upright ones do get a flag - and often have a flag holder from the GAR, the American Legion, or other organization.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War also hold ceremonies at the 'GAR Circle' and you sometimes see a Chaplain wander through the other large veterans internment areas, as well as members of the WWII re-enactment outfits.

These ceremonies remind civilians of the high cost of Freedom - though folks who attend them likely already know this...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Steel Horse Bailey]

..........

These ceremonies remind civilians of the high cost of Freedom - though folks who attend them likely already know this...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Yes - it's just preaching to the choir.


The people who NEED to be reminded are too busy shopping and partying to notice what it's REALLY about.  But I guess that describes a hell of a lot of America in 2008.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Yes - it's just preaching to the choir.


The people who NEED to be reminded are too busy shopping and partying to notice what it's REALLY about.  But I guess that describes a hell of a lot of America in 2008.

                                        Sad But Probably TRUE 




                                                                  tEN wOLVES 

[Black Powder]

I looked down my street yesterday and only one other house was flying the flag.  We're talking middle to upper middle class surburban neighborhood and folks on my street don't spring $20 for a flag.  I don't get it.

But I did hear some lawn mowers.  The weather was perfect Saturday & Sunday, but I guess these folks must've had reasons why they couldn't crank up their mowers and weed whackers until Monday.  Course, my mom frowned when she heard lawn mowers running on Sunday...

I cannot imagine what surviving families must be thinking, as they remember and grieve through their loss, accompanied by the strains of lawn mowers on a manicured street with nices homes, 90% of which don't have a flag flying.

It's a shame and frankly embarrassing.

I'm running out of stores and brands to boycott that advertise Memorial Day sales.

BP

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Hello Black Powder

          Reading your post made me feel better knowing there are others that feel the way i do, i sometimes feel there is becoming less and less real Americans in our Country, My Dad came to this Country from Holland , and got his Citizenship as soon as he could, he loved this Country of his, and respected it fully, and couldn't wait to join the Armed Forces in WW2. And when i looked down the street yesterday, we were the only ones with our flag flying, Thats not right , i'm not judgeing people , but it makes you wonder how many people really know the sacrifices, our Fathers and there Fathers before them have made, and all the young boys we now have fighting for our FREEDOM, Nuf said , THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST


                                               tEN wOLVES

[Texas Lawdog]

Folks aren't interested until it affects them directly.