Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a patriotic
holiday obsevered to honor our nation's
members of the armed forces who
gave their lives for their country.

Memorial Day originally honored the men
who lost their lives during the
Civil War, but now it also honors
those from the Spanish-American
War, World Wars I and II, Korea,
the Vietnam War and all others.

No one really knows when or where
Memorial Day was first observed, but
according to tradition it originated during
the Civil War. Southern women
chose May 30th to decorate soldier's
graves. They placed flowers
on the graves of the
soldiers of the Confederacy,
and the Union soldier's graves as well.
That is how the name Decoration Day
came about. Flowers and flags
are placed on the graves of servicemen.
Military groups have parades and
picnics follow on this day.

After World War I veterans sold
paper poppies to help disabled
veterans. I remember nagging
my grandmother for a few cents
to buy one to help disabled veterans.
it was as important to me then, as it is now.

Source: Worldbook Encyclopedia
1972, Vol. 13, page 318

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from falling hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John Macrae (1872-1918)