I've gone to the archive for this one. I'm copying here two entries from previous Memorial Days. They go together.
5/30/2016
MEMORIAL DAY
It seems funny to me that this day was only officially a national holiday beginning in 1971. I can't remember when there wasn't a Memorial Day even though I've been here long before 1971.
Before then, we called it Decoration Day. Since the Civil War, it was the day people went to the cemeteries and put flowers (decorations) on the graves of those who fought and died. Memorial Day carries on that tradition for all those who died in all wars.
Think about those who died. What an awesome sacrifice. Try to imagine a parent or your spouse or your sons or daughters dying in a war. If you can't even imagine it, you are so lucky.
*o*
Before then, we called it Decoration Day. Since the Civil War, it was the day people went to the cemeteries and put flowers (decorations) on the graves of those who fought and died. Memorial Day carries on that tradition for all those who died in all wars.
Think about those who died. What an awesome sacrifice. Try to imagine a parent or your spouse or your sons or daughters dying in a war. If you can't even imagine it, you are so lucky.
*o*
5/29/2006
MEMORIAL DAY
MEMORIAL DAY
Today is the last Monday in May. It is a federal holiday. It is a day off of work and school. It is the unofficial first day of summer. It is the traditional day to run the Indianapolis 500 auto race though they have changed that to Sunday. It is a day for family gatherings, picnics and back yard parties.
What a mess!
May 30th was originally Decoration Day. It was the day set aside to visit the graves of and to honor Union soldiers after the Civil War. After World War I, it came to include all those who gave their lives in any war or military conflict and the name was changed to Memorial Day.
On June 28, 1968, the US Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill. It moved Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day from their traditional days to Mondays in order to make a long weekend for workers and not disrupt business. (Washington's Birthday holiday eventually became Presidents Day). At one time, all of those days were national holidays.
Now, most American workers only have a business holiday on Memorial Day. Changing those holidays to Mondays diminished their importance. Yes, I'll say it again - changing those holidays to Mondays diminished their importance. Don't let that happen to Memorial Day. We need to get Memorial Day back to May 30th. Damn the 3-day weekend. We're selling our history for convenience.
Today is the last Monday in May. It is a federal holiday. It is a day off of work and school. It is the unofficial first day of summer. It is the traditional day to run the Indianapolis 500 auto race though they have changed that to Sunday. It is a day for family gatherings, picnics and back yard parties.
What a mess!
May 30th was originally Decoration Day. It was the day set aside to visit the graves of and to honor Union soldiers after the Civil War. After World War I, it came to include all those who gave their lives in any war or military conflict and the name was changed to Memorial Day.
On June 28, 1968, the US Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill. It moved Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day from their traditional days to Mondays in order to make a long weekend for workers and not disrupt business. (Washington's Birthday holiday eventually became Presidents Day). At one time, all of those days were national holidays.
Now, most American workers only have a business holiday on Memorial Day. Changing those holidays to Mondays diminished their importance. Yes, I'll say it again - changing those holidays to Mondays diminished their importance. Don't let that happen to Memorial Day. We need to get Memorial Day back to May 30th. Damn the 3-day weekend. We're selling our history for convenience.
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