Memorial Day

May 11th, 2011 | Author: admin

Memorial Day Is Celebrated on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day”.

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our nation.

There are well over two dozen cities and towns in the United States that lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day and there is also evidence that points to organized women’s groups in the South which were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. Regardless of claims and beliefs, in May 1966, President Lyndon B Johnson officially declared Waterloo New York to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. It is however difficult to conclusively prove the origins of Memorial Day

More likely, Memorial Day sprouted it’s roots in many towns, cities and communities as these organizations planned memorials to honor the many soldiers who gave their lives defending our mighty country, the United states Of America.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed a national holiday on the 5th of May, 1868 by General John Logan. The first official observance of Memorial Day was on the 30th of May 1868, when flowers were placed both on the graves of the Confederate soldiers and the Union at Arlington National Cemetery.

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.
Moina Michael

Observance of Memorial Day in America has been diminishing over the years.
Many Americans have forgotten what the meaning of Memorial Day is, they have failed to pass the traditions down to their children, they have forgotten the patriotic feeling of pride and respect and honor for America and her armed service men and women. The graves of our fallen soldiers at many cemeteries are now completely neglected and forgotten.

There are many resources available to re learn about Memorial Day and to assist you in teaching and training your children about the value and importance of honoring and remembering 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.