Memorial Day
I can get a great deal on a car in the next few days. Electronics are on sale. Hotel’s are booked. It’s the beginning of summer! All the big networks are wrapping up the TV viewing season. Schools across the country are out or are counting the few remaining days.
What I haven’t seen any place is the mention of a parade. Not a word about honoring those that died in the service of our nation. No words to the Gold Star families to let them know we have not forgotten. It saddens me.
Memorial Day was called Decoration Day as well as Remembrance Day, no one really knows what town was the first to celebrate it, several claim it as their own. What is known is that it came into being as an idea about the same time in several places in the late 1860’s. The Nation was still mourning its dead on both sides of the Civil War. In 1868 General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic issued an order that May 30 would be Memorial Day, for the First time the graves of Union and Confederate dead in Arlington were decorated with flowers.
By 1890 all of the Northern States were celebrating Memorial Day on May 30th. Most southern states still has different days of remembrance. The division between the North and South Remained until after WWI when Memorial Day expanded to Include WWI dead as well.
Memorial Day remained May 30 until 1971, When Congress passed the National Holiday act, moving Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, giving federal employees a 3 day weekend. Several Bill have been introduced to move Memorial Day back to May 30, all have died in committee.
I share the opinion that Memorial Day started to lose its meaning when it was moved. Celebrations and Parades that used to be common place in small towns across the Nation became less common. Adding to the problem was the perceived mood of the Nation in the years following Vietnam. The inevitable commercialism of all holidays has led to a Generation of Americans that only know Memorial Day for sales, a long weekend and a trip to the lake.
There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50’s on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the Soldiers of the Old Guard place small American flags at each of the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 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. And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.
Many feel that memorial day is for remembering all that have died. It is my belief that this day needs to remain sacred, and reserved only for those that gave their life for the Nation.
In Flanders Fields
Lt Col. John McCrea MD.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
In 1915, inspired by the poem Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
| 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. |
Whatever your plans this Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember those who gave everything so that we can know Liberty.
©2014 This Aint Hell
Category: Arlington National Cemetary, Reality Check
My plans are the same as they always are; I spend the Thursday evening before Memorial Day putting flags on the graves of those that went before me and I spend Memorial Day with my brothers and sisters paying tribute to our brothers and sisters that have taken point.
“…from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.” -Abraham Lincoln
Early tomorrow morning, about 500 Boy Scouts will converge on Chattanooga National Cemetary. After a short memorial service, the boys (and girls) will place flags on each of the 30,000 graves of veterans from the civil war to the present. The scouts place the flags quickly and quietly and it is complete in less than an hour. As I see the boys depart with the adult leaders and families, I overhear questions from many of the youth regarding what this symbolizes as well as other questions that we all ask at one time or another. As long as young people such as these are willing to give up their Saturday for such a worthy task, I will view the future a bit more brightly.
E4U Thank you for this article. It is always a special day for me that I still hold for its original remembrance. I agree with your last comment the most.
“Many feel that memorial day is for remembering all that have died. It is my belief that this day needs to remain sacred, and reserved only for those that gave their life for the Nation.”
There is a day, a birthday, date of death and many other ways to remember my mother and others I love. But not Memorial Day. It is sacred to me, only for those who “gave the last full measure of devotion” to our nation and to them alone. It is THEIR day and none others. God bless the United States Of America and God bless all those who gave their lives to defend this great country.
^^^ What you said, Sparks. ^^^
Too many people today don’t know or understand the sacrifices of our fallen brothers. Memorial Day us nothing more then an excuse to drink party and go to the lake. I never work memorial day for 2 main reasons, first is that I still hold it as a somber holiday and spend it with my father and older brother remembering those we each lost. Second, and probably more important, I have a bad habit of punching people that tell me “happy memorial day”.
“…I have a bad habit of punching people that tell me ‘happy memorial day.'”
Smitty, I know that running into that level of ignorance is difficult, but that’s what it is — ignorance. Try talking to them, educating them, instead of lashing out at them. Or worse, walking away in silence. You have to correct a fault to fix it. Left unchecked, people will tend to just go on as before, not realizing their error. Don’t just assume they know what they’re saying, because most of them don’t.
It sounds like your day is properly spent. As for anyone who says, “Happy Memorial Day,” I would agree, in part with PN. Do tell the well wisher that Memorial Day is to honor our nation’s Fallen and that there is no happiness associated with it, only remembrance, reverence, and gratitude. Then, punch. They will never forget the message.
Air cav, I’ll try to remember that order but no promises.
To all Northern California TAH’ers: The Ebbetts Pass Veterans Memorial District will be re-dedicating our Memorial in Murphys, CA.
This will take place on 26 May 14 from 1000-1400 hrs. Through a gracious donation, we’ve been able to double the size of the Memorial and now have a bronze statue of a 173d Trooper as the center piece.
If you’d like to attend/need more info, ask Jonn for my email and I’ll respond ASAP.
Hope to see you there.
There’s a wonderful poem I love about this. I’d have to find it, but it’s called “The Last Inspection”, I believe.
“THE FINAL INSPECTION”
The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
“Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my Church have you been true?”
The soldier squared his soldiers and said,
“No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.
I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills just got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.
I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.”
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgement of his God.
“Step forward now, you soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.”
A Final Inspection was written by
Sgt Joshua Helterbran in 1996
There is a Part II part the same Man.
It deals with frauds and Phony’s.
Part II
I’m very saddened by America today,
when they take credit for what others say.
I wrote a poem because of problems in my past,
how was I to know that it was going to last.
It has been read by all and loved the same,
but indeed at the end there is no name.
The name is simple for those who know,
it’s not Kilmer, Longfellow, Service, or Poe.
It’s a soldier who has fought for his country so true,
He’s proud of the ole Red, White and Blue.
You now know the poem the one and the same,
The Final Inspection is the name.
I wrote it because of the trials so true,
and of my buddies who died for country and you.
So take this poem, take it as you trod,
because in Heaven I’ll see my God.
He will look at me and say don’t be sad,
others read your poem and you made them glad.
Now step forward my son and look your best,
and come inside with all the rest.
by: Sgt Joshua Helterbran
I never knew he made a part two.
Just as beautiful as the first.
E4U Thank you for finding and posting that. There’s a lot of dust in the house today.
Sparks, I couldn’t agree more…. E4U – Thank you.
Liberals’ self-decided day of ignorance…
“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” –John Stuart Mill
I am escorting my dear departed da’s little sister to his grave and we will present and place a flag … my dad fought in Korea with the 13th Combat Engineers Battalion. She is a nun visiting from Ireland. And then I will ponder speeches such as this one by President Ronald Reagan: Remarks at Memorial Day Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery May 31, 1982 Mr. President, General, the distinguished guests here with us today, my fellow citizens: In America’s cities and towns today, flags will be placed on graves in cemeteries; public officials will speak of the sacrifice and the valor of those whose memory we honor. In 1863, when he dedicated a small cemetery in Pennsylvania marking a terrible collision between the armies of North and South, Abraham Lincoln noted the swift obscurity of such speeches. Well, we know now that Lincoln was wrong about that particular occasion. His remarks commemorating those who gave their “last full measure of devotion” were long remembered. But since that moment at Gettysburg, few other such addresses have become part of our national heritage—not because of the inadequacy of the speakers, but because of the inadequacy of words. I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country. Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them. Yet, we must try to honor them—not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice. Our first obligation to them and ourselves is plain enough: The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us… Read more »
Master Chief, thank you fro that. Oh that someone would put this on Obama’s desk and make him memorize it.
You can’t memorize what you can’t read, and you can’t read what you can’t understand. That is why Obama will never see this, Sparks. Or anybody that works for him, either.
they would have to put it up on the TOTUS anyways, I doubt he remembers anything.
Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers’ Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers’ Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he’s emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers’ Green.
And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers’ Green.
nbcguy54, Thank you for posting this. Again, there’s a lot of dust in the air today. I am humbled.
I never considered Memorial Day a parade or celebrate type of holiday, more one of remembrance; however, there is a parade in DC: http://www.americanveteranscenter.org/parade/
For myself, I’ll likely attend the Candlelight Vigil at the Wall on Friday, attend the Run for the Wall/Madison Rising and CVA event on Saturday and perhaps the Rolling Thunder demonstration ride on Sunday. Then Monday is Memorial Day…I agree with your last comment:
“Many feel that memorial day is for remembering all that have died. It is my belief that this day needs to remain sacred, and reserved only for those that gave their life for the Nation.”
One tiny little quibble – are there in fact any Confederates interred at Arlington? I was under the impression that only Union troops were buried in national cemeteries.
Yes The exact number is unknown
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/visitorinformation/MonumentMemorials/Confederate.aspx
Thank you, Enigma! You do learn something new every day here.
In addition to that Confederate-specific grave site, there is also the mass grave of the Unknowns in which some 2000 Union and Confederate remains are intermingled. I beieve it to be the most beautiful grave at Arlington.
I will plant forget-me-nots in the flowerbed, after I put the flag in its spot.
Ex-PH2 Now I am downright tearful. Thank you my sister. Thank you.
I will remember my aunt, who gave 34 years of her life counseling vets in the Wichita VA. A very special lady who was dedicated to “her boys”, she finally died of COPD (from second-hand smoke of stressed out servicemembers – never smoked a day in her life.) Unlike her namesake aunt, her brother, and nephew, she never went into uniform, but dedicated more years than all of us combined. The world lost a great lady this month, and I miss her.
Out here in fly over we still fire the salute to the dead, wear poppies and place flags on the gravesites. There will be veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Kosovo, Iraq & Afgan. on the firing line, and the people come over and thank us for our service. God Bless America
This will be the first year in a great long time that I will not be able to participate in a Memorial Day event conducted by my local American Legion Post. That is only because my wife will be recovering from surgery and will need me close by. Have no fear, my front yard will be covered in mini American Flags to honor my Father, my Step-Father, my Grand-Fathers, and my Grand-Father In-Law. And of course, for all those I don’t know or never met but served our country.
Flags In.
TOG.
Today is Divsion Review in the 82nd Airborne Division. This is the culminating event of All-American week, which usually takes place the week prior to Memorial day. We honor our fallen and our veterans with a parade.
While new paratroopers sometimes object and gripe to having to stand in formation and rehearse for this. For most, when they see the formation of ‘old-timers’ marching in front of the division still as proud as the last day they wore their uniforms, it’s amazing how many get ‘allergies’ and ‘dust in their eyes’.
For some of us, we will be jumping on Holland Drop Zone here on Fort Bragg, Even though it is Memorial Day, we still need to be ready to deploy and fight the nation’s wars.
Enjoy Memorial Day America, rough men still stand ready to violence on your behalf.
I found a way to raise awareness of the meaning of Memorial Day at work. I work in a Cube City, and all of our computers face the traffic lanes between the cubes. I changed my wallpaper on my computer to a picture of Arlington Cemetary with a flag superimposed, and this message: “All Gave Some; Some Gave All. Remember Them on Memorial Day.”
Several people have stopped and backed up to read my screen, and a couple have made favorable comments.