MEMORIAL DAY

Okay, okay!  I haven't posted since Mother's Day.  That's what I planned for this morning.  I've had some rough days if you must know . . .

You're right, today is the day we celebrate Memorial Day: 

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 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. © 1994 - 2007 David Merchant
Updated 28 April 2007

There are a lot more stories and information on the site, including the claim that it was originally called Decoration Day.  The women of the south would go on this day to lay flowers on the graves of those who died in the Civil War. You can go to this site to learn more.  I found it very interesting.

Memorial Day to me is not a day for picnics, getting drunk or for going 400 miles away from home only to race back Monday night to make work on Tuesday.  Yes, we all enjoy the days off, and picnics and trips happen, but what happens to the true explanation of the day?  For the most part it is forgotten and our children, grandchildren don't understand at all . . .

Every ounce of freedom that we have can be laid on the grave of a man or woman who gave life so that our country could be free.  It's hard to understand that just a few steps away, over the border from the US to Mexico there is a vast difference.  I lived in Mexico for 15 years.  Little by little I got used to their culture and little by little, I forgot the freedoms that we have as US citizens have.  When election time came around, I began to understand that in Mexico there is no real freedom of speech.  Christians are persecuted (especially those who went there to preach or teach the Gospel)  When I came home, I began to see what I had forgotten.  Some loud and brassy woman at the store began to tell the checker what to do politically.  In an insistent voice.  I was unhappy with the dialogue, not because she was right or wrong, but because she slowed the line down a lot.  In the car, I was so happy!  If you did that against one of their politicians, you'd be shot or sent to jail.  WE ARE TRULY FREE!!

There are young men and women dying now for our freedoms.  They are fighting against cruel dictators like Saddam Hussein and against terrorists who would see America and all Americans dead and gone.

Stop by a grave if you haven't already done so.  Say a prayer, write a dedication.  Do something to remind you what Memorial Day is about.  Teach your kids.  You will never regret it.

                    

This is my husband Robert.  He is a Vietnam War veteran.  He fought for our freedom, saw others die and came home from a war others despised.  This what is happening now.  Our brave military personnel are coming home from a war others despise.  Instead of counting the war dead, which we all do, let's start counting our freedoms.  Pray a blessing over those that have died in ALL wars and thank them and their families for making the ultimate sacrifice.

 

 

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