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wrbones
05-23-03, 03:04 AM
http://www.usmemorialday.org/





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.

General John A. Logan
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-B8172- 6403 DLC (b&w film neg.)]

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, P.L. 90 - 363, in 1971 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 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.


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. 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 50'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.

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).

But most Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.

To help Americans re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. 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." In an added development, this year [2001] on Memorial Day, the "Calling America s Heroes" Memorial Day campaign will provide free AT&T phone cards to the first 100 armed forces members or veterans who request them at participating 7-Eleven stores 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."

Additionally, on January 19, 1999 Senator Inouye introduced bill S 189 to the Senate which proposes to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th instead of "the last Monday in May". On April 19, 1999 Representative Gibbons introduced the bill to the House (H.R. 1474). The bills were referred the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Government Reform.

To date, there has been no further developments on the bill. Please write your Representative and your Senators, urging them to support these bills. You can also contact Mr. Inouye and Mr. Gibbons to let them know of your support.


Sources and related links:

7-Eleven®, AT&T Join Forces with White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance:
Alliance Launches Calling America s Heroes National Memorial Day Campaign --
[www.usmemorialday.org/calling.htm]
Boalsburg, Pa., Birthplace of Memorial Day
[www.rootsweb.com/~pacentre/memory.htm]
DC City Pages: History of Memorial Day.
[www.cnn.com/US/9805/25/memorial.day.wrap/]
General Logan Biography
[www.jal.cc.il.us/johnlogan.html]
General Logan's General Order 11
[www.usmemorialday.org/order11.html]
Help Restore the Traditional Day of Observance of Memorial Day
[www.usmemorialday.org/act.html]
Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 from Duke University).
[memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/ncdhtml/hasmhome.html]
How to Observe Memorial Day.
[www.usmemorialday.org/observe.htm]
Luminaria Program
[www.nps.gov/frsp/luminari.htm]
Phone cards for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and hospitalized veterans
[www.operationuplink.org]
The Origins of Memorial Day
[www.va.gov/articles/celebam/memday.htm]
Roy, Nuhn. Portfolio: To Honor The Memory of the Departed. American History Illustrated 1982 17[3]: 20-25.

S 189 and H.R. 1474, bills to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day.
[www.usmemorialday.org/act.html]
"S. Con. Res. 100", resolution for a National Moment of Remembrance.
[www.usmemorialday.org/resolution.html]
Statement on Signing the National Moment of Remembrance Act
[www.usmemorialday.org/speeches/president/dec2800.txt]
Taps Information.
[www.usmemorialday.org/taps.html]
VFW's "Buddy" Poppy program
Waterloo, Official Birthplace of Memorial Day.
[www.rootsweb.com/~nyseneca/memorial.htm]





© 1994 - 2003 David Merchant
Updated 13 May 2003

wrbones
05-23-03, 03:10 AM
http://www.jeannepasero.com/memdaylinks.html

It takes a minute to load.

Look under Google: Memorial Day

thedrifter
05-23-03, 06:57 AM
FORGOTTEN FIGHTER

Norman Jones



"In World War II" he whispered, "I was wounded by a blast."
As he began his story, reminiscing of his past.
"I was just a boy back then, I lied about my age.
To get into the Army and fight for the USA

I love this country very much, It's still the very best.
And I would fight, to keep it free and safe from foreign pest.
We won that war, and I came home, my wounds had healed enough,
To re-enlist, with other men, the Army made us tough.

Then a little flare up in Korea called us out.
A threat against our freedom, spreading fear without a doubt.
There I caught a bullet when I tried to save a friend.
Another wound, for Uncle Sam, they sent me home to mend."

"Soldier, have you had enough?" my Sergeant said to me.
"Or, do you want another tour, if ever there's to be."
We would train and fight again, if ever it need be,
Because we loved America, we'll fight to keep it free."

It didn't take too long before my boys were off again.
We were shipped off to a war, we thought would never end.
I didn't understand it much, if it was wrong or right.
But I was a US soldier and my country said "Go Fight"

I never questioned orders that were sent from up above.
I did it for America, the country, that I love.
I fought to keep my country safe, again in Vietnam.
Then, wounded I came home again, a victim of napalm.

My fighting days were over now and I had given all.
But, some had given more than me, their names are on a wall.
I am now, well up in years, a soldier old and worn.
I could only sit and pray, as I watched Desert Storm.

So proud of our boys over there, who stand for what is right.
Freedom is the battle cry, the reason why they fight.
Young soldiers fight for liberty, protecting freedom's bliss.
Old soldiers dream of bygone days, while fighting loneliness.

" We were heroes in our day," he said, and then he sighed.
"Forgotten in some V. A. home, and all my friends have died.
I never ask for anything, just wanted to live free.
But, if you write this story, there are many just like me.

Who fought to keep our country, safe and free from every foe.
Only to come home again and have no place to go.
Sadly, when the limelight fails, heroes fade away.
Some men fight the silent battles till their dying day.

Please remember what it took and what we have to pay
And join with us remembering on this Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is Special, it is not just summer's start.
The reason that we have this day, should be etched on your heart.

Lives were lost, and young men died, to keep this country free.
So take a moment on that day to meditate with me.
Remember all those valiant men and women who fought for
the lifestyle that you now enjoy because they went to war.


Sempers,

Roger


All have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day