Memorial Day

The question of the moment seems to be: when to celebrate Memorial Day, May 28 or May 30? School is observing one day, the banks another. It gives one an unsettling feeling. Having all the holidays on Mondays does have the advantage of a three-day weekend but it diminishes the real reason for the holiday when its not on the day of the original event.

Some holidays seem to have lost their original impact all together. In this instance, I had difficulty recalling why we do celebrate Memorial Day anyway, and researched the subject in a book "Red Letter Days" by Elizabeth Sechrist.

The holiday dates back to the days after the Civil War and was instituted to keep alive the memories of soldiers who had been killed ins ervice to their country. Later, military deceased of the Spanish American and World Wars were included.

The first observance was on May 30, 1868 when women in the South decorated the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers with flowers and was first referred to as Decoration Day. The day, May 30, was chosen by General Logan, the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, "for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year."

May 30 was observed as the national holiday from then on with the exception of some southern states which chose either April 26, May 10, June 3, 6 or 9.

The usual observance may include a parade with military and community organizations participating, assemblies, dinners and/or speeches. But most important is the continued tradition of decorating the graves of the honored dead with flowers and individual American flags.

The Memorial Day ceremonies at the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia are an impressive annual event. Similar ceremonies take place at other National cemeteries throughout the U.S.

Memorial Day has also become known as Poppy Day. The tradition originated when tiny red poppies were sold by ex-servicemen for the benefit of disabled veterans. The idea originated in France and spread to England, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

The custom of decorating graves has a much older origin than the aftermath of the Civil War, however. It was practiced by the Druids and the ancient Greeks and Romans. In many countries of the world, graves are visited on special days and decorations of wreaths, food or flowers are brought to revere all the departed, whether service-connected or not.

It is ironic that when Memorial Day is celebrated that military units in full uniform are the major part of the display. It would almost seem that we are in fact glorifying war rather than promoting peace and the futility of war.

President Wilson, in a Memorial Day address on May 30, 1919, said: "It is for us, particularly fo rus who are civilized, to use our proper weapons of counsel and agreement to see to it that there never is such a war again." But apparently, no one was listening.

Austin Dobson echoes this thought in a verse from his "A Ballad of Heroes":
Because you passed, and now are not,
Because in some remoter day,
Your sacred dust from doubtful spot
Was blown of ancient airs away
Because you perished, must men say
Your deeds were naught, and so profane
Your lives with that cold burden? Nay,
The deeds you wrought are not in vain!

Peace!