Memorial Day

May 25, 2009 is Memorial Day. For most Americans, the Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of summer plans. Cookouts, family gatherings, trips to the beach or your favorite summertime vacation spot. But, for many American Families, it is also a time of remembrance. The remembrance of a loved one lost on a distant battle field or in any endeavor, while in uniform of Military Service, for our Country. Arlington National Cemetery is 624 acres that sit across the Potomac River near the Pentagon. Over 300,000 burial plots are maintained there with Military personnel from the United States Services as well as civilians, specifically chosen, because of the sacrifice they made to our nation. The first soldier was buried in May of 1864.
This is a practice that continues to this day. There are additional Burial Grounds in Europe and around the world that are home to our deceased Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

When I decided to write this article I researched the history of Memorial Day and found some interesting facts. The following is from; http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.


Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It appears to have started during the Civil War and there are many different stories circulating claiming fame to the origin of this holiday. From the Southern Women who would place decorations on the Confederate graves to the Northern town of Waterloo New York where they started placing wreaths and crosses over the graves of their war dead. Originally started on a May 5th, eventually the date was moved to the 30th of the month. Today it is still officially May 30th, but is celebrated on the last Monday of the month allowing a three day weekend of celebration and remembrance. After World War I, this date began to honor the fallen of all Wars instead of just the Civil War.

The following are links that I found interesting and worth while if you would like to know more about this Holiday;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day
http://www.history.com/minisites/memorial
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/may30.html
http://www.patriotism.org/memorial_day/
http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/Visitor_information/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetery
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/index.html

Now, when I was a kid, Memorial Day meant a day off from school, a family cookout and participation in the Town’s Memorial Day Parade. I would get up early on that day, have my breakfast and head into town on my bicycle. With two small American Flags, on thin poles attached to the rear wheel of my bike, I would pedal as fast as I could to make sure I was in the center of town in plenty of time to enjoy all the festivities. Inside my saddlebags were my baseball cards and clothespins. The cards were duplicates, or of players I really did not like. We called these cards noise makers. We would place the cards in between the spokes of the bicycle wheels and hold them in place with the clothespins. We would place these cards on the bike wheels when the parade began and we would usually bring up the rear when the parade was ending. Believe me; with about 50 kids riding their bikes, you could hear us a block away. You see, all of the kids who showed up, were allowed in the parade.

My childhood town was Milford Connecticut. The parade would begin from the Milford High School parking lot next to the football field and finish in the Center of Town, on the Town Green. This was about 2 miles. Speeches by politicians would be made, entertainment would take place, arts and crafts exhibits were abound along with food concessions. (Boy, does this bring back memories) You always knew when the parade was coming by hearing the siren from the lead car which was usually the Chief of Police. He was followed by a Fire Truck blaring it’s siren as well. Then you would hear the first Marching Band. For us, it was the Milford High School Marching Band. It was a small group of only 10 to 12 students. A baton twirler, a couple of drums, trumpets with a bass drum and a flute or two. Their uniforms were of the Maroon and White school colors. Quite frankly, the uniforms were the same design as the Salvation Army uniforms. The only thing missing was a gal banging cymbals and a guy pulling an open pot behind them looking for money. Next, Miss Connecticut, if she was available, riding on the back deck of a convertible, waving and smiling to the crowds gathered along the parade route. Then, Miss Milford would come along sitting in her convertible smiling and waving. The Politicians would be next, playing the crowds and shaking the hands of their constituents. The Marching Band to the other High School in town would be next. The Jonathan Law High School Marching Band with their black and gold uniforms, feathers rising high above their uniform hats. They always looked like they were ready to invade Poland. There were about twenty of them with the same instruments as Milford High. Now came the most important part of the Parade. The Veterans of Wars being honored on this day. The Vietnam War Veterans marched first since this war was going on at the time. They never seemed to actually wear uniforms. They would wear Helmets or Berets and dress in torn or dirty or ragged clothes while marching with rifles over their shoulders. Right behind them marched the Korean War Veterans. Their uniforms always looked like they were Battlefield ready, with helmets backpacks and side arms as well as rifles over their shoulders. The World War II Veterans followed in Dress Military uniforms. Looking rather sharp with war medals on their chests and marching to their leader saying “ to the left, to the left, to the left, right, left” The World War I Veterans followed with some riding in convertibles waving to the crowds. Some still marched though, with their rifles over the shoulder. Now came, the real interesting stuff. The Civil War Veterans were next. As a kid I thought they looked real good for their age. (Believe me, as a kid, I wasn’t the brightest light on the tree. Sometimes, my Mother didn’t think I was lit at all.) Both Union Soldiers, in their blue uniforms followed by the Confederate Soldiers in gray. Of course, there was a small tractor, pulling a Civil War cannon behind it as well. Then finally, and your not going to believe this, but the Revolutionary War Veterans were represented. I was always amazed how much George Washington looked like one of my best friend’s father. The Colonials would walk behind General Washington on his horse. Come to think of it, I used to hear my friends mother yell at her husband to get off his high horse. I wonder…. Well, the Colonials in their Blue Uniforms would march with Muskets over their shoulders and waving to the cheering crowd. Of course, the Redcoats were also represented. General Charles Cornwallis, who looked a lot like my Grammar School History Teacher, would ride his horse holding his head high and nodding to the parade faithful as he passed. The Red Coat Troops, marching with their Muskets over their shoulders, would call out their marching chant with a very poor imitation of a British accent. After all the Veterans were accounted for, then the premier marching band would arrive, the pride of Milford.

The Shoreliners Marching Band were sponsored by the Milford Police Department and competed around the world in competition. When they reached the Green, in the Center of town, a 15 minute performance would be provided, that always left everyone awestruck. Behind the Shoreliners were all of the bicycles making their flapping noises from the baseball cards placed in their spokes. Bringing up the rear were Fire engines and ambulances with a Police car the last one. People along the parade route would walk behind the last cruiser and follow it to the green while others went home to their cookouts. I would stay for a while but, I would return home because I knew my father would have the grille in full form.

Now, I know some of you who know me wonder, if I am going to tell a story or two more about my childhood. I will in future articles. For today, I would like all of you to take a moment and say a prayer or, just have a moment of silence, for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, for the freedoms we celebrate on this Holiday. Think of their families as well, who only have memories, of the loved ones that are no longer here. May you all have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day Weekend.


That’s how I see it.