Memorial Day

The Memorial Day weekend is coming up and for most people, that means barbecuing, road trips, and picnics but do you know what Memorial Day REALLY means or where it came from?

Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day" as a way to memorialize those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan. It was first observed on May 30th, 1868 when flowers were left at the gravesites of Confederate and Union soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The National Holiday Act of 1971 made Memorial Day into a federally observed holiday that is always on the last Monday in May. In 1915, Moina Michael was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" and conceived the idea of wearing a red poppy in memorial to those that have died while serving our nation in times of war. A few years later, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) became the first veteran's organization to sell the poppies nationally in their "Buddy Poppy" program. Each poppy sold was made by a disabled veteran.

Today, most people view Memorial Day as another day off but perhaps we should all give thanks to those that have given their lives in order for us to have that day off. Paying tribute to the fallen soldiers can be as simple as taking a personal moment of silence as a display appreciation or choosing a more visible way of commemorating by placing flags at gravesites, marching in or attending Memorial Day parades, dedicating memorials, sending care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan or wearing Buddy Poppies. As our older war veterans disappear, there will be fewer people to carry that torch of remembrance. It's up to us to keep their memories alive and pass on the importance of this holiday to younger generations.

Until next time, keep it clean.