Decoration Day

“In Memoriam” by Miss Sophie B. Steel

I saw a post yesterday on Facebook that said "Memorial Day...in case you thought it was National BBQ Day." The accompanying image of a young lady lying atop a flag-decorated grave has lingered in my mind since I viewed it.

For many Americans, Memorial Day has become the offical commencement of summer - the three day weekend of beach trips and barbeque parties. Perhaps we need a reminder of what this "holiday" is all about.

Originally known as Decoration Day, this is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of our nation. Research suggests that, even before the end of the Civil War, Southern women were forming groups and decorating the graves of Fallen Soldiers. 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).

In May of 1966, President Lyndon B.Johnson offically declared Waterloo NY 'the' birthplace of Memorial Day, though it would be impossible to define the actual origin of the day. The official place of origin is not so important - what is important is that Memorial Day was established as a day to honor those who literally gave their all for our country.

Decoration Day was officially proclaimed in May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, as a day of remembrance for the soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War. It was first observed on 30 May 1868, when the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery were decorated with flowers. By 1890 the holiday was recognized by all of the northern states however, many in the South refused to acknowledge the National Holiday, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I, when the holiday changed from honoring only Civil War soldiers to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.

In 1971 Congress passed the National Holiday Act, and Memorial Day is now celebrated in almost every State on the final Monday in May. It is interesting to note that several Southern states have additional days set aside for honoring the Confederate war dead: *January 19 in Texas
*April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi
*May 10 in South Carolina
*June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Sadly, traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years as Americans rush the stores for charcoal and hot dogs in prepartion for the long weekend. Too many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day and too many have failed to impart the significance of the day to our young citizens. At too many cemeteries, the graves of fallen Soldiers are neglected or ignored altogether. Too many people have forgotten proper flag etiquette. (On Memorial Day the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon.It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who have given their lives in service of our country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.) While most cities and towns hold parades for one reason or another, many have not held a Memorial Day parade in decades. In 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.

But there are still those who remember. Since 1948, on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment - the “Old Guard” - have placed small American flags in front of each of the more than 300,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. Each flag is planted precisely one foot in front of a grave marker and perfectly centered. These Soldiers then patrol the cemetery 24 hours a day throughout the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

To help remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed in Dec 2000; it asks that, at 3 p.m. local time, all Americans "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." The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day.

As a nation we need to come together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. As Citizens we need to return to the solemn, sacred spirit of Decoration Day.