Memorial Day Remembrance
(May 19, 2009) |
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| SOUTHWEST ASIA (5/12/2009) -- Contrary to popular belief, Memorial Day is
much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. To many
people, especially the nation's thousands of combat veterans, this day has a
history stretching all the way back to the Civil War and is an important
reminder of those who died in the service of their country.
The story of Memorial Day begins almost 150 years ago, in the summer of 1865,
when a local druggist, Henry Welles, mentioned to some of his friends at a
gathering that while praising the living veterans of the Civil War, "it would be
well to remember the patriotic dead by placing flowers on their graves." Nothing
became of this suggestion until he renewed the idea the following spring to Army
Gen. John Murray.
General Murray himself was a Civil War hero and intensely patriotic. He
supported the idea completely and marshaled veterans' support. Plans were
developed for a more complete celebration by a local citizen's committee headed
by Mr. Welles and General Murray.
On May 5, 1866, the village was decorated with flags at half staff, draped with
evergreens and mourning black. Veterans, civic societies and residents, led by
General Murray, marched to the strains of music to the three village cemeteries.
One year later, on May 5, 1867, the ceremonies were repeated.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set
aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was
first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil
War Soldiers. Army Gen. John A. Logan, the commander in chief of the veterans'
organization, Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed May 30 as Decoration Day by
General Order 11 on May 5, 1868. This was two years after the 1866 commemoration
in Waterloo, N.Y. By Congressional proclamation in 1966, Waterloo was cited as
the birthplace, also in 1866, of the observance in the North.
After World War I, the day came to be observed in honor of those who had died in
all U.S. wars, it was renamed. Since 1971, Memorial Day has been observed on the
last Monday in May. A number of Southern states have continued also to observe a
separate day to honor the Confederate dead.
Memorial Day is observed with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns
in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and by religious services, parades
and speeches nationwide. Flags, insignia and flowers are placed on the graves of
veterans in local cemeteries.
For many, this day carries no special meaning except perhaps an extra day off
from work and school, a barbecue, the start of the summer holiday season, and
for stores, the opportunity to hold their annual Memorial Day Weekend sale. In
reality, the holiday is observed in honor of our nation's armed service
personnel who were killed in wartime. It is tradition to mark the holiday by
flying the national flag at half staff and numerous memorial ceremonies held
throughout the U.S. | |
By USAF Lt. Col. Mitchell Culp
379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from
Air Force News Service
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