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!

[US Scout]

Some years ago, I read that Captain Robert Carter, 4th Cavalry (retired) used to visit his old comrades at Arlington National Cemetary on Decoration Day and leave a small US flag in front of their tombstones.

I am a member of the recreated 4th Cavalry at Old Fort Giffin, Texas, but living in Virginia I am unable to participate in any of the unit's events, so I resumed Captain Carter's custom several years ago.  However, I leave flowers instead of the flag.  The Old Guard now puts out the flags now, and Arlington only allows flowers to be placed on the graves.

So, on Monday, I will visit Arlington National Cemetary to leave flowers at the graves of a few friends, as well as selected graves of soldiers who served in the 4th Cavalry and other regiments during the Indian Wars.  Each year I usually find another one or two graves of old warriors forgotten except in the history books and add them to my list. 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

I have a fallen warrior that I visit each year as well. He's from WWII, and was killed at the Kasserine Pass in N. Africa in 1943. He was a member of my Dad's unit and my Mom knew him as he was from Canton here. My Dad was from Fresno, Calif.. During the battle a German column was trying to sneak past the position they were occupying, he spotted them and pointed them out with a .50 cal. and was subsequently killed by return fire. His action saved a lot of the unit.
He was interred there during the war and repatriated in 1948. His mother passed away in about 1967 in Calif. and was buried out there instead of the plot they had here. Over the years it was sorta left to grow over. When my Dad passed, I was able to find the location and take Mom back out there. The markers had been over grown by a shrub/tree and almost couldn't be seen. The first year, I was able to trim back the branches and at least get it so it could be seen. Before this, he had been over looked for Memorial day for quite awhile. I talked to the Cemetary caretakers about the tree/bush and finally got them to take it down. His U.S. marker can now be seen and he can get the recognition he deserves.
I remember Pvt. Donald Fulton, 19th Army Engineers.......Buck

[Delmonico]

I going to be at the cematary tommorow when the Talmage VFW does their honor guard, Dad got his 50 year membership pin from them last year.  Since it's a little over 3 miles from the farm, I'm thinking about driving Dad's 1948 Feruson Tractor over if Mom and my brother don't object.  He inhearted it from his dad and they are both their now.

[Silver Creek Slim]

I took the family to the local cemetery on Monday to look at all the graves of Military veterans. There were some that didn't have flags that I know were in the Civil War. I need to contact the American Legion to rectify the oversight. The grave of a distant relative of my better-half's doesn't have any indication that he was in the war. I will check will the WI chapter of the SUVCW to see what it will take to get a maker placed on his grave.

Slim

[US Scout]

I have the honor to report that on Memorial Day I visited Arlington National Cemetary and left flowers on the graves of 20 comrades.

Two were men who I knew and greatly admired.  One was in the Navy and served 20 years, to include in WWII.  At least three ships he was on were sunk, including one by a kamikaze at Okinawa.  He was in the Philippines when it fell, served briefly as a guerilla before escaping to rejoin the fleet.  The second was a Special Forces officer who was captured by the VC and remained a captive for five years.  He was murdered by terrorists years later.

The remaining 18 were those who served during the Civil War and Indian Wars, and even one Rough Rider; they included soldiers, sailors and Marines.

I arrived at the cemetary with a list of 12 names but each year I find additional graves to visit. 

Unfortunately, I had to miss a visiting a few graves this year, even though I was at the cemetary a good two hours longer than usual.  The crowd this year was larger than in past years and many roads and paths were blocked off for the President's visit.  At one point we had to exit into Ft Meyers and were not allowed to reenter until after the ceremonies - though we were allowed to reenter via the cemetary's Visitor's Center. 

[Just George]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart St. George.