Metropolis Reality Forums - Happy Memorial Day

Sponsored by: The Fans!

Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register.
Nov 24^th, 2024, 8:19am

Upcoming Premiere Dates:
Survivor 23, Season premiere
Thursday, September 14 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on CBS

Metropolis Reality Forums Ť Happy Memorial Day ť

   Metropolis Reality Forums
   Community
   The Grapevine (Moderators: Heather, Bumper, Isle_be_back)
   Happy Memorial Day

Previous topic | New Topic | Next topic »

Pages: 1

Add Poll

Notify of replies

Send Topic

Author

Topic: Happy Memorial Day (Read 588 times)

Addams
You Bet Your ASS Team
ForumsNet Member

Gender:

Posts: 5398

Happy Memorial Day
« on: May 26^th, 2003, 10:56am »

Quote

Modify

Wishing everyone a very happy and totally safe Memorial Day holiday in the USA!! Cool

What do y'all do on Memorial Day?

How does it differ from Veteran 's Day?

IP Logged

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #1 on: May 26^th, 2003, 11:11am »

Quote

Modify

I could be mistaken, so feel free to correct me here, but I believe that Memorial day is the day we celebrate those who have died that served in our nation's military. Veteran's day is a celebration of all those who have served in our nation's military (living or dead).

IP Logged

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #2 on: May 26^th, 2003, 11:14am »

Quote

Modify

I did a quick Google and came up with this on Memorial day:

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: 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). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings.

General John A. Logan
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-B8172- 6403 DLC (b&w film neg.)]

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, P.L. 90 - 363, in 1971 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.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.
Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

And since 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program).

But most Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.

To help Americans re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To 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." In an added development, this year [2001] on Memorial Day, the "Calling America s Heroes" Memorial Day campaign will provide free AT&T phone cards to the first 100 armed forces members or veterans who request them at participating 7-Eleven stores to "remind Americans of the real purpose of Memorial Day and thank veterans and members of the armed forces for their service to our great country."

Additionally, on January 19, 1999 Senator Inouye introduced bill S 189 to the Senate which proposes to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th instead of "the last Monday in May". On April 19, 1999 Representative Gibbons introduced the bill to the House (H.R. 1474). The bills were referred the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Government Reform.

To date, there has been no further developments on the bill. Please write your Representative and your Senators, urging them to support these bills. You can also contact Mr. Inouye and Mr. Gibbons to let them know of your support.

IP Logged

Addams
You Bet Your ASS Team
ForumsNet Member

Gender:

Posts: 5398

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #3 on: May 26^th, 2003, 11:40am »

Quote

Modify

[quoate]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.
[/quote]

Rhune that was so interesting. I went from zero to infinity with your one post. Thanks for those posts. It was extremely interesting.

Do you know anyone who wears poppies on this day?

in Canada november 11th wraps both events into one. We all wear poppies on that day and in the week preceding it.

Veterans sell the poppies still - many of them stand for hours in malls yet they look so elderly and frail.

God bless all who have died in the service of their country and for the freedoms of those who live today.

« Last Edit: May 26^th, 2003, 11:47am by Addams »

IP Logged

MzWings
ForumsNet Member

Praying for FN members/family health & happiness

Gender:

Posts: 0

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #4 on: May 26^th, 2003, 12:04pm »

Quote

Modify

What a lovely surprise this morning when I turned on the tv and there was Clay and Ruben singing "God Bless The USA" on the Today Show. They and the musicians were under a canopy as it was pouring rain. None of that dampened the spirits of the audience, or that of this American in Canada.

God's blessings on all those brave souls who fought to their death for the freedoms we have today.

IP Logged

"Senility Prayer"...God grant me...
The senility to forget the people I never liked
The good fortune to run into the ones that I do
And the eyesight to tell the difference."

Addams
You Bet Your ASS Team
ForumsNet Member

Gender:

Posts: 5398

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #5 on: May 26^th, 2003, 12:12pm »

Quote

Modify

How wonderful. Lucky you and that is so great they did that. God Bless them for being united in their futures.

IP Logged

darnchts
You Bet Your ASS Team
ForumsNet Member

Friends are God's Way of Taking Care of Us.

Gender:

Posts: 1190

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #6 on: May 26^th, 2003, 5:36pm »

Quote

Modify

When I was growing up, the schools would have the students walk to the nearest cemetary and we would search the graves to find people who served in the war.

My family has always spent Memorial day going to our immediate past relatives and putting "fake" flowers on the graves. About 5 years ago, I decided that the graves looked so much better with real flowers so for 2 years, I planted flowers on my Grandmother's and cousin's graves. I was not close enough to the rest of my family who has passed to spend the time or energy on such a thing..say nothing about the fact that it just cost me 25.00 to do 3 graves so it can be rather expensive. I loved My Grandmother with all my heart and my cousin died when he was only 12 mysteriously and he of course just happened to be one of my closest friends even though I only saw him one week each summer since they lived in Virginia at the time. When Dad died, his grave of course had to have real flowers on it and my brother actually followed in my steps and does the same each Memorial day. He does not put on the other two though so I always feel the burden to make sure each grave has plenty of flowers. Mom finally has given up the fake flower thing and the past 2 years has put live ones on. She is helping me with the cost this year. Dad and my grandmother both got a rose bush on theirs this year. I was very proud of how all three looked. I couldn't find pansies to put on these year..and again one of those meant to be things..everyone else got pansies..so my geraniums, roses, petunias and blue wisteria look great beside them.

IP Logged

Friends are like pillars on your porch.
Sometimes they hold you up
and sometimes they lean on you.

Addams
You Bet Your ASS Team
ForumsNet Member

Gender:

Posts: 5398

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #7 on: May 26^th, 2003, 7:10pm »

Quote

Modify

rose bush - so wonderful.

I have not visited my grandmothers' graves or my one grandfather ever on my own. Rarely with my mom and never my dad's mom. I had better start doing this. I have been to so many family funerals and know where the graves are but I will not always be here to tell others.

Darnchts - thank you for helping me to remember what I had neglected. We will bring flowers too.

IP Logged

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #8 on: May 26^th, 2003, 7:48pm »

Quote

Modify

I personally was not aware of the poppy association prior to this article. It's possible people still do that, but it's not something that was ever talked about when I was growing up or noticed. In general it is a day to put flowers on graves (any flowers). Most people I know use it as a time to clean up and nicen the graves of loved ones. I don't have any family living in this city, or buried nearby, so it's a day we stayed at home today and took some time to relax.

IP Logged

darnchts
You Bet Your ASS Team
ForumsNet Member

Friends are God's Way of Taking Care of Us.

Gender:

Posts: 1190

Re: Happy Memorial Day
« Reply #9 on: May 26^th, 2003, 10:49pm »

Quote

Modify

Addams...actually I was feeling this same thing about the rest of my family. My mom mentioned that she has not been to my dad's parents grave in a long time. I told her that this summer we will have to ride down to where all of Dad's family is so that I can be reminded where the graves are and can write it down. I am not close to any of Dad's family except the Aunt who is letting us stay with her when Mom and I go to Florida this summer...but shame on me for not knowing where the graves are since Mom might not be around much longer to show me. I learned a lesson from myself too...

As for poppies..I vaguely remember having them in school. I also know that the veteran's sell little homemade ones on Memorial Day and I usually donate money so I can get one for my car. I didn't go to a store this weekend so I didn't see them selling them..I will miss my poppy this year...

IP Logged

Friends are like pillars on your porch.
Sometimes they hold you up
and sometimes they lean on you.

Pages: 1

Add Poll

Notify of replies

Send Topic


Previous topic \| New Topic \| Next topic »