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MEMORIAL DAY
I wish everyone in this country
realized how important the sacrifices of our military are and have been to
our country and way of life. So many have made the ultimate sacrifice to
preserve not only our freedom, but the freedom of peoples around the world.
I am lucky. My father served over 30
years in the United States Air Force. He served in the Vietnam War.
He came home to us and I grew up with a wonderful father who taught me
respect and gratitude for our Armed Forces. I am very grateful that I get to
honor him on Veteran's Day and not Memorial Day. I cannot imagine a life
without him. He is my hero. He is the best Daddy anyone could hope
for. |
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But not everyone was as lucky as I. Many did
not come home. Many children grew up without a father, wives lost
husbands, husbands lost wives, parents lost children, not only in the
Vietnam war, but all the wars before and since. Even today, in the War on
Terror we have people sacrificing their lives to make this world free. This
page is for those whose families have borne the ultimate sacrifice for us
and our country.
Thank you. Your loved one shall always
be remembered.
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John 15:13 - Greater
love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. |
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The History
of Memorial Day |
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While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared
the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's
difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely
that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned
or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's
tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed
honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his
official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first,
what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not
about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to
honor those who gave their all.
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, and
was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of
Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
Traditional observance of Memorial day
has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the
meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of
the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer
remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and
cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in
decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not
just those fallen in service to our country.
To help re-educate and remind Americans
of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National
Moment of Remembrance" resolution was
passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans
"To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of
remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment
of silence or listening to 'Taps."
The Moment of Remembrance is a step in
the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed
is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of
the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those
who have given their all in service to their country. |
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Observance
of Memorial Day |
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The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been
ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the
ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day
where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved
ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice:
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by visiting cemeteries and placing flags
or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes |
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by
visiting memorials |
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by
flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon |
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by
flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the
1998 Defense Authorization Act) |
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by
participating in a "National
Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to
pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for
Taps to be played |
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by
renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled
dead, and to aid the disabled veterans |

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Memorial Day Poems
I looked on the Web to find
a couple of good poems expressing what Memorial Day means to me. If I
were a poet, I would have written one of my own. I found two, written
by third graders in Connecticut. We often think of children not being
able to comprehend the meaning of war and the sacrifices made. These
two prove that assumption wrong. God bless them and their parents for
instilling such understanding and pride in America and our military.
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Memorial Day
© 2001 Tim F., 3rd Grader,
Academy Elementary School, Madison, Connecticut.
I think about the people that fought
in the wars,
some have died to keep us free.
I think about the men and women,
Who saved lives on land and at sea.
I look at the monuments,
In memory of the brave.
I help plant red flowers
At my grandfather's grave.
At the parade, I see flags flying,
Red, white and blue.
I watch rows of different uniforms,
Navy, white and brown too.
The soldiers salute with pride.
Memorial Day remembers and honors
those who have died. |
Remembering...
© 2001 Jessica F., 3rd Grader,
Academy Elementary School, Madison, Connecticut
Red, white and blue
For those we knew
Who marched off to war.
We honor them now
And show them how
Their bravery we can't ignore.
Heroes of war,
They were so much more,
Father and brother and friend.
Flags at half mast
For those of the past
To whom our gratitude we send.
We place flowers on the graves
Of those who were brave,
We salute them far and wide.
Seeing poppies galore
While our hearts soar,
remembering proudly those who have died. |
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Thank you to Doc's Military Backgrounds for the use of
the graphics
Thank you to
USMemorialDay.org for the history of Memorial Day. |
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