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NOTE: 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WWI (The U.S. did not enter the war until 1917).
2014 also marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the allied invasion of Normandy during WWII.
The following is from USMemorialDay.org:
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. We can do so by:
- visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes
- visiting memorials
- flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon
- flying the ‘POW/MIA Flag’ as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act)
- 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
- renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans
Massachusetts: A color guard from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Menemsha, followed by Martha’s Vineyard veterans, led the 2012 Memorial Day parade.
“This weekend I am going to do something different. I am going to buy some carnations each day and go to one of the nearby cemetaries and walk through the sections for soldiers. When I find a grave that has no flowers, I’ll leave one and say a prayer for the family of that person, who for some reason could not bring their soldier flowers. I will pray for our country and all who serve or have served. For their families, who also serve by losing precious days, weeks and months spent with their loved ones who are off serving, preserving peace and the freedom we have in this country. I’ll pray for the families who paid the ultimate price, who’s loved ones died, or were taken captive and never returned. I’ll pray for anyone who may still be held in captivity and thinks perhaps they are forgotten. I do NOT forget. I’ll say a prayer for every person on the Internet who takes a moment from their time to come to sites like yours and be reminded of what this holiday really means. And I’ll say a prayer of thanks and ask God’s richest blessings on you.
Thank you again…. and God bless!
Sylvia Mohr”
No, Thank you and God Bless you, Sylvia. May more follow your example.
In fact, wonderful people in other nations sometimes show more of the true spirit and mission of the U.S. Memorial Day than we do here. For example, a 2001 USMemorialDay.org Guestbook entry from a citizen of the Netherlands states:
“Hi,
In 1999 I laid flowers at the grave of a young U.S. fighter pilot who was KIA in my village in 1945. In the Netherlands I know of schools ‘adopting’ graves of Allied servicemen, keeping those graves in excellent condition ! Does anybody know of adopting graves in the U.S. by schools?
Sincerely,
Paul Patist Castricum, The Netherlands – Tue May 15 04:50:29 2001. Email: patist@wanadoo.nl
More schools in the U.S. could follow the lead of the Netherland schools. Let us take a few moments this Memorial Day to reflect on the meaning of the day, to observe the day and be mindful of the sacrifices of others before we go and enjoy the freedoms they bought for us.
Reprinted from usmemorialday.org/observe.htm. For educational purposes only.
Questions
PLEASE NOTE: “Answers” emails end for the summer today. StudentNewsDaily postings & weekly quizzes will continue until June 13th.
1. Why are the editors of USMemorialDay.org attempting to move the observance of Memorial Day to May 30th, from the last Monday in May?
2. a) Do you support moving the observance of Memorial Day to May 30th? Explain your answer.
b) Do you think those attempting to restore Memorial Day to its original day will be successful? Why or why not?
3. List the suggestions provided by USMemorialDay.org for how Americans should observe Memorial Day.
4. This year will you take part in any of the activities from question #3? Explain your answer.
5. How has this post inspired you? Explain your answer.
6. Ask at least one grandparent how his/her family, school and community commemorated Memorial Day when he/she was a teenager.
Background
FACTS ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY:
- Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.
- Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868 when a special ceremony was held at the Arlington National Cemetery where flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers.
- Memorial Day was originally known as “Decoration Day.” The alternative name of “Memorial Day” was first used in 1882.
- Moina Michael conceived of the 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. In 1921, her efforts resulted in the poppy being adopted as a symbol of remembrance for war veterans by the American Legion Auxiliary.
- Memorial Day is usually observed in the United States on the last Monday of May.
- Memorial Day was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, but its scope was expanded after World War I to include all U.S. men and women who died while in the military service.
- The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol and is broadcasted every year on PBS and NPR.
- Waterloo in New York was given an official recognition as the birthplace of Memorial Day on May 26, 1966, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation declaring the same.
- The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress in 2000, asks Americans, wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day, to pause in an act of national unity for a duration of one minute. The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather, it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died in service to the United States.
- The idea for the Moment was born when children touring the Nation’s Capital were asked by the Commission’s Director what Memorial Day means. They responded, “That’s the day the pool opens.”
Resources
Read about Memorial Day at memorialdayfoundation.org and usmemorialday.org. Read about two Memorial Day traditions below:
THE PLAYING OF TAPS became a standard component to U.S. military funerals in 1891. It is sounded during each of the 2,500 military wreath ceremonies conducted at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every year, including the ones held on Memorial Day. Taps is also sounded nightly in military installations at non-deployed locations to indicate that it is “lights out,” and often by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to mark the end of an evening event such as a campfire. Read the history of Taps at: west-point.org/taps/Taps.html
While there are no official lyrics for Taps, the following unofficial verse (author unknown) is often used:
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh — Falls the night.Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.Then good night, peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright;
God is near, do not fear — Friend, good night.
Watch Taps being played at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery:
THE WEARING OF POPPIES in honor of America’s war dead is traditionally done on Memorial Day. The practice of wearing of poppies takes its origin from the poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by John McCrae.
Have you ever read the poem “In Flanders Fields”? Have you ever given money to a veteran offering poppies at supermarkets or church? Do you know how this tradition first began or what is done with the money collected? For history of the poppies, go to:
- the Veterans of Foreign Wars website at vfw.org/Community/Buddy-Poppy, or
- www1.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/flower.pdf
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
by John McCrae
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.
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