Confusion about Memorial Day.

[JB]

It seems a lot of folks don't understand what Memorial Day is about or even when it came about.<br /><br />This morning on the TV News a reporter said that we have been honoring our veterans for 35 years.<br /><br />Memorial Day is not about veterans or our men and women in uniform. It is about war dead. It grew in many places and on many dates, but the earliest observations were in the Confederacy during the Civil War. The first official proclamation of Memorial Day was by Gen. John A. Logan, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in May of 1868.<br /><br />Different states made it a state holiday at different times for the next hundred years. We celebrated it on the last Monday of May when I was a child, and the Indianapolis Memorial Day 500 mile race began before WWI.<br /><br />It became an official national holiday as part of the National Holidays Act of 1971. (I guess that's where the "35 years" came from).<br /><br />Any day is a good day to honor our veterans and our armed forces. There are holidays designated for that purpose, but this day is to honor our war dead. We have been doing it for 144 years, not 35.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Thank you for your long, honorable service my friend.<br />And to clear-up any haze created by today's media;<br /><br />

 

[12Footer]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

 

[timmathis]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

I't is sad to see what our Country has become. Most people don't honor anything anymore. <br />Only one out of ten family's go to church now. What will it be like in 20 years? Tim

 

[12Footer]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

True, Tim. But don't give up. "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.<br />BTW, i know the in-picture captions are somewhat "inappropriate", but fealt no need to photochop them further.

 

[ob]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Many of the people down here honor loud music and beer drinking for Memorial Day.Funny you should post this thread JB,as I was just eluding to this yesterday to my wife.Many just don't or won't get it.This is not a me day but a go down on your knee day.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Originally posted by JB:<br /> We celebrated it on the last Monday of May when I was a child, and the Indianapolis Memorial Day 500 mile race began before WWI.<br />

I'll get blasted for this but... Memorial day is a day to honor, a day to observe, a day to pay homage. I don't think to call it a celebration is apropos, although some celebrate too much.

 

[JB]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Touche', BB.<br /><br />I should have said we observed Memorial Day.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Hadn’t really thought about it, just presumed Memorial Day was a day to ‘memorial’, i.e. remember or not forget, and Veterans Day was in honor of those that served.<br /><br />Thanks for the history, JB. Excellent, BB!!!

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

JB, my post was actually a continuation of some thoughts I had last night. It was late and I went out on the front porch to sit a few minutes. In the distance, I heard fireworks and I thought, this is not a time for celebration. It's a time of rememberance and reverence.

 

[txswinner]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

We do celebrate what those who gave the ultimate sacrifice left us. Yes it is rememberance and reverence, but explained to me by my Dad who lost 1 brother in WW11, it is a time of joy to remember, not sadness. Just his philosophy many others look at it differently.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Thanks for the classy picture 12 feetz and thanks to JB for reminding us.

 

[Serentiy]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

This was the first memorial day I cried my eyes out. I visited my Best friend. It has only been four months but I also she was discharged with honor from the Airforce. But she died in a car accident. It is also a day to remember your loved ones.<br />serenity

 

[steamboatwilly]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Thanks.JB.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Thanks JB. I wish I would have learned that in public school and not here on a boating web site. Oh well....

 

[fireman57]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

I have noticed that over the last 10-15 years that the number of veterans is getting fewer and fewer. They used to make sure that the graves of fallen soldiers had a flag on them for Memorial day. This seems to be a practice that is falling by the wayside. It is not their job to do this although they have for decades. It surprises and saddens me that the families of these fighting men do not take it upon themselves to make sure that their fallen have a flag or display on the grave but take the attitude that it is the surviving veterans and their organizations job to do this.

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

I posted a sign in my office at my business to tell my customers I would be closed in observance of Memorial Day, and had a not calling on thos ewho saw the sign not to forget those serving, those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I always knew it was to remember, but I thought it was for all those who stood up for democracy and freedom, thanks for the clarification JB.<br /><br />My only problem with any of the ceremonies I saw media coverag of was that they all seemed to be using Memorial Day to validate the war in Iraq. Remember those who served and died, remember those who have fallen, regardless of where. But don't try to use that to validate an unjust, and unnecessary war.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Confusion about Memorial Day.

Some do regard a Funeral as a time for celebration.