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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.

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.

John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The History of Memorial Day

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.

Observance of Memorial Day

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:

	by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes
	by visiting memorials
	by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon
	by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act)
	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
	by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans

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.

		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.

		Thank you to Doc's Military Backgrounds for the use of the graphics Thank you to USMemorialDay.org for the history of Memorial Day.