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Memorial day history
| Most Americans now-a-days have forgotten
the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. We think of it only as another
"three-day weekend", a time for parades and picnics. But to help and to remind
Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of
Remembrance" resolution was passed by Congress in Dec 2000 which asks us one and
all to stop, at 3 p.m. our 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."
This resolution was passed to: "remind Americans of the real purpose of Memorial
Day and thank veterans and members of the armed forces for their service to our
great country." |
| 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. The first state to officially recognize the holiday
was New York in 1873. 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). |
In 1915, inspired by the poem "In
Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
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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.
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She then conceived of an
idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the
nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her
friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later
a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this
new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made
artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed
women. This tradition spread to other countries. |
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| In 1921, the Franco-American Children's
League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The
League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help.
Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans'
organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy
program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US
Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy
movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it. |
| Since the late 1950's on the Thursday
before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small
American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington
National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure
that each flag remains standing. |
| Memorial Day, originally called
Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's
service. It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May
(passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act, P.L. 90 - 363, in 1971 to
ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays). And since 1998, on the
Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl
Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers
buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's
Heights (the Luminaria Program). |
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On this day we honor:
Revolutionary War - 4,435 American Deaths
War of 1812 - 2,260 American Deaths
Mexican War - 1,733 American Deaths
Civil War - 364,511 Union Deaths
Civil War - 133,821 Confederate Deaths
Spanish American War - 53,402 American Deaths
World War I - 118,518 American Deaths
World War II - 405,399 American Deaths
Korean War - 36,516 American Deaths
Vietnam War - 58,198 American Deaths
Gulf War - 383 American Deaths
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War on Terror (Afganistan
& Iraq) - |
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200 American Deaths and On
Going. |
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PLEASE REMEMBER ON MAY
31, STOP AT 3 PM, AND SAY A PRAYER FOR THE FAMILIES OF THESE HEREOS.
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Page By
Texas Bob
5/18/09 |
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