Now You'll Know: The History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). 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. 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). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael 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. 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.

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.

How To Have a Healthier Memorial Day

   Memorial Day is just around the corner, and like many of you I am looking forward to my extended weekend! Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices of our brothers, sisters, and neighbors. It is also a time to gather family and friends near the most accessible body of water and have one heck of a cook out! For most Americans this means hamburgers and hotdogs, chips and ranch dip, and a whole lot of soda or beer! I am going to offer a few tips so you can toss these old standbys and have a more healthful Memorial Day! :)

Appetizers
Snacks are essential to any type of outdoor activity. Lots of people will stick with the old Fritos/bean dip, Lays/french onion dip, tortilla chip/queso route. Why not do something different for a change? Try a roasted red pepper hummus with some warm, soft pita bread. Toss some pico de gallo and a couple of avocados with a squirt of lime for a fresh homemade guacamole, served with veggie sticks! Still hankering for something salty? Try kale chips!

For the Grill
There are lots of options when it comes to grilling that don't always involve tubed meat. Try some veggie shish-kebabs or add a lean, organic protein if you prefer! Grilled corn, portabellos, and "baked" potatoes are always delicious and wholesome choices as well. Something I've been aching to try, grilled pizza!

Beverages
Most people flock to fizzy and sugary beverages to quench their thirst. The actual fact is that these drinks are not really satisfying that thirst and creating more dehydration. The only way to beat dehydration (which is very important when you are out in the sun all day!) is to drink water! Don't like water? Try adding lemon or lime, berries and other fruits, herbs, and various other goodies to spruce it up! Cucumber lime mint water sounds so much more appetizing than just water, don't you think?

   There are so many options when trying to cut back on the processed, fatty foods of our culture. Keep an open mind and eat things that have life force! I can guarantee you, you will enjoy that day at the lake so much more! Not to mention your swim suit will look better! ;)

Stay clean and have a safe, healthful holiday weekend!

DIY: Body Scrub for Summer Skin

   It's summertime in Texas. Time for BBQs, swimming holes, and a whole lot more skin. Why not get yours summer ready with a homemade body scrub?! Just a few ingredients are all that you need for a wonderfully scented, luxurious exfoliating scrub that rivals the chemical laden store bought varieties.

   First gather your ingredients:

• 2 cups salt or sugar (epsom or sea salt/brown or regular sugar)
• 1 cup oil (grapeseed, avocado, almond, or jojoba work nicely)
• 8-10 drops of essential oil (Your favorite scent! I recommend lavender, peppermint, or lime! Or mix and match for a scent that is all your own!!)

   This recipe couldn't be more simple. Just pour the above ingredients into a bowl, stir to evenly distribute the oils, and then store in a jar or tupperware container. This should last for a couple of months without any problems. That is to say that you don't use it all before then. :)

   Sugar or salt scrubs also make great birthday and holiday gifts. I usually upcycle old spaghetti sauce jars, tie a bow or fancy ribbon around the top, and fill with my lovely scented concoctions! This scrub will also not only exfoliate your skin to perfection, it also leaves behind a moisturizing layer of oil and slight fragrance. I like it because the scent is not overbearing and harsh like most commercial brands. Plus, you made it yourself! Doesn't get much better than that! :)
  So say goodbye to winter scales and say hello to glowing, radiant, vacation ready skin!  Stay clean until we meet again!

Healthy Routines

When you start exercising, it's easy to either be really soft on yourself or to push too hard. Here's a few basic tips for setting the right balance.

Make a Habit
It takes 60 days to turn a daily activity into a habit. If you're having trouble getting into the routine of exercising, just put a calendar on the wall and X-off 60 days in a row for every day you work out. As long as you create the habit and get your body used to being active, it doesn't matter what you do. This could mean a 15 minute jog around the block, a sun salutation of yoga poses or doing a few sets of push-ups. The idea is to make it not feel weird or like a chore to lace up those sneakers every day.

Keep It Simple
Your workout should be a basic game plan. The more you add to it, the easier it is to over think what you're doing and talk yourself out of it or over-do it. If you plan on doing more than one or two activities per day, memorize your circuit so you can flow directly from one activity into the next. If that's too difficult, try taking a class for a while. The peer pressure of having an instructor, a friend or even strangers watching you work out is a motivator, and if someone is telling you what to do next, you can't tell yourself to do more or less than what was planned. If you're by yourself, wear a heart-rate monitor  and stay in your zone so you know when you're over-working or under-working. Force yourself not to change that routine once you set it for at least 2 months. That way you'll get the most benefit out of your current routine and see realistic results from what you're doing.

Stay Alert
Get a good night's sleep each night and lay off the caffeine. The best way to stay awake is to get plenty of rest and eat foods that are easy to digest and don't weigh you down. Eating seems like a very sedentary activity, but digestion takes a lot of energy! When you eat less, your body expends less energy throughout the day. Start your morning with hot water with lemon, herbal tea, a smoothie or a probiotic drink such as kombucha. Easing yourself into eating throughout the day allows your body to rehydrate itself and reenergize itself for the long day ahead. If you still have trouble staying alert, try elevating your workstation so that you have to stand at your desk. When you stand you move and shift your weight more, your blood flows more and it's easier to think clearly.

Don't Make Excuses
If you worked too hard yesterday, don't automatically give yourself a pass for today. Likewise, if you missed yesterday's workout, it won't do you any good to run twice as far today. If you make a mistake or didn't do your routine quite right, learn from it and move on. You can always try again today with what you learned yesterday. It's more important to keep the healthy habit than to vary your routine to try and balance it out. And if something is always stopping you from working out or doing your plan like you planned, treat your time like an appointment. What you do for yourself is important too and shouldn't be blown off or pushed aside for extenuating circumstances.

Take an Off Day
All of that said, it helps to close out the week and have a fresh start by taking one off day. Usually people choose Sunday or Friday, but it can be any day you like. It also helps your muscles to recover and get ready to be pushed further for the coming week. Try not to overdo your time off either: Taking more than two weeks off from working out will set back any previous gains you have made.


Forming healthy, balanced habits is not always easy, which is why not everyone has them. However with great patience, the willingness to keep trying again and again, a forgiving mindset for your mistakes and healthy pats on the back when you reach your milestones, before you realize it you'll already be in great shape. Until next time!