Monday, May 26, is our nation’s observance of Memorial Day, a holiday honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Activities will include flying Old Glory, parades and the American Legion organization selling artificial, red poppies as a fund raiser. The flower has been a symbol of lives lost since the World War I poem by John McCrae, “In Flanders Field.:”
The first commemoration was held just three years after the ending of the Civil War (1861 – 1865). General John Logan designated May 30, 1868, as Decoration Day because it wasn’t the anniversary of any battle. He asked people to strew flowers or otherwise decorate the graves in a nationwide remembrance of his comrades who died in defense of our country during the late rebellion and whose bodies lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. The tradition continued until 1971 when an Act of Congress designated the last Monday in May as Memorial Day, an official federal holiday.
Most of the people killed were young–just beginning their adult lives. Some weren’t considered mature enough to vote in elections or drink alcohol but they were the right age to fight for our country.
During World War II, service flags featuring a blue star against a white background and a red border hung in the windows of many homes. A gold star replaced the blue star as a heart-wrenching signal to the community of the family’s devasting loss. For those families, every day is memorial day. Left behind are parents, siblings, spouses, children and friends.
Many people consider Memorial weekend the unofficial beginning of summer activities. Grills and patio furniture will be dusted off for picnics, bar-b-ques and parties. Businesses will conduct sales urging customers to buy big-ticket items such as furniture.
I hope each person will take time to consider, “Is my freedom worth other peoples’ lives?”