Memorial Day honors the fallen, remembers their sacrifice
By: Toni Walker
Editor
On May 30, banks, schools, and most government buildings will be closed in observance of Memorial Day. People all over the area will head out to lakes, or celebrate with bar-b-ques and get-togethers. However, it is important to remember the truth and meaning behind Memorial Day, to honor those who gave their lives protesting our freedoms.
In May of 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson officially declared Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day, although the true origins are unknown. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is set aside in remembrance of those who died in service to the United States of America. Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor those who died during service, and was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan.
The purpose was to “strew with flowers, or otherwise decorate 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,” Logan proclaimed. Logan chose May 30 because it was not the anniversary of any particular battle. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield spoke at Arlington National Cemetery prior to over 5,000 participants decorating 20,000 graves of Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.
Following the Congressional passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971, almost every state observes Memorial Day on the last Monday in May. It was not until after World War I that the day changed from an observance of those killed in the Civil War, to one honoring those killed in any war.
Moina Michael penned a poem, inspired by “In Flanders Fields,” which honors those who died in service to their country. In part, it reads, “We cherish too, the Poppy red; that grows on fields where valor led, it seems to signal to the skies; that blood of heroes never dies.” This led to the original observation of wearing Poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who sacrificed everything.
In December of 2000, the “National Moment of Remembrance” was passed, which asked all Americans to stop at 3 p.m., local time, and observe a moment of silence in honor of those soldiers who had died in battle. Sometimes, this moment of silence includes a playing of “Taps,” as well.
Veterans will say “Don’t wish me a Happy Memorial Day,” and if you have lost some of your best friends in battle, it is easy to understand why. So, before you head out to the lake, or fire up the bar-b-que grill, stop and remember that “All gave some, but some gave all. Some stood true to the Red, White, and Blue, but some had to fall. If you ever think of me, think of all your liberty and recall that some gave all.”
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