Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May. This year it is May 27th. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May. This year it is May 27th. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Until 1967 Memorial Day was called Decoration Day because it was a time when loved ones decorated the gravesites of fallen soldiers.
Its beginning was a sad one. During the Civil War over 620,000 soldiers on both sides died. Everyone was grieving, and wanted to honor their dead soldiers. It began as women began putting flowers on the graves of their dead. Then a parade of living war veterans occurred. On May 5, 1868 General Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic ( and organization of Union veterans) set aside May 30, 1868 for the purpose of …. decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.
While federal employees observed this holiday, state observance occurred state by state.
Some of the southern states didn’t adopt it until after World War I when the purpose of Memorial Day had been broadened to include in all the country’s wars.
In 1971 the holiday was declared as the last Monday in May. Some customs have developed over time. It is customary to fly the flag at half mast until noon, and then raise it to the top of the staff until sunset. Taps is played. Some people read the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields” by Canadian Dr. John McCrea, which referred to a loss of many American soldiers in Ypres in western Belgium. Silk red poppies are worn.
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faithe with us who die
We shall not sleep, thou poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
(www.arlingtoncemeter.net/flanders.htm
Many towns and cities have parades and war veterans march, and bands play. Usually speeches are read in honor of the dead.
It is also a good time for picnics and barbecues as families get together and mark the beginning of summer.
On Kaua’i the Veterans Cemetery is at 4331 Lele Road in Hanapepe. The phone number is 335-3692. Every year the Boy Scouts from the Aloha Council clean and put flags on the graves of the soldiers.
It might be that the greatest way to honor our veterans would be for their children and grandchildren to live in peace with each other so that no more need die violently, and soldiers don’t have to face the difficult conflict of honoring “Thou shalt not kill” and loving one’s country. If there is no gravesite for your ancestor’s grave to visit, then remember him or her with appreciation and gratitude for believing that you were worth fighting for. May your Memorial Day be memorable.
I will be on holiday myself, and have invited guest columnists from “The Corner” to write. Have a great summer.
• Hale `Opio Kaua’i convened a support group of adults in our Kaua’i community to “step into the corner” for our teens, to answer questions and give support to youth and their families on a wide variety of issues. Please email your questions or concerns facing our youth and families today to Annaleah Atkinson at aatkinson@haleopio.org
