Memorial Day/Decoration Day - Once More...

[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!

[Trailrider]

Have you heard the recording called, "The Wall"?  It's not really a song, but it's about two young men who go through Basic and wind up getting off the plane in 'Nam.  One is assigned to Long Bin, the other Pleiku.  They promise to "look me up after the war."  Although they write each other once while in country, the narrator winds up stepping on a tripwire, and spends the rest of his tour in a hospital. Twenty years later, he's in Washington, D.C., with his family, and stops at The Wall.  A third troop, originally reported missing, his name is NOT on The Wall.  But the soldier who asked, "Don't forget to look me up after the war..." well his name is there! 

And there are others...including a young USAFA graduate to whom I presented a religious item at the baccalaureate service two years ago.  She was assigned to Hickam AFB, HI, as an intelligence officer.  Nice, cushy assignment for a female 2LT...  May is the first year's anniversary of her death.  She volunteered for Afghanistan and an IED got her!  RIP, Roz!  And there have now been 1000 other KIA in Afghanistan.  The cost of Freedom is very high.  Even one is too many.  From Lexington green to Iraq and Afhganistan.  Lest we forget! Lest we forget!

[S. Quentin Quale, Esq.]

A fitting tribute:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cJCskkZUEJQ

SQQ
CDR, USNR (Ret.)

[River City John]

Attended a very moving service at Forest Lawn this morning for all those from American Legion Post 1 in Omaha who have answered the Call Eternal and reported to The Supreme Commander for duty, my Father-in-Law one of them.
I was pleased to see quite a turnout of all ages.


RCJ

[pony express]

My wife and I attended the ceramony at Jefferson Barracks in St Louis today, was a really nice ceramony, and well attended. After the main ceramony, there were smaller services, in the Union and Confederate sections on the cemetary, led by Civil War groups, in uniform, including musket and cannon salutes, and laying flowers at the graves.Will try to post some pics later(the wireless in this hotel is less reliable than my dial up at home).