Memorial Day through a warrior’s eyes

Coach is Right ^ | May 26th, 2012 | Jim Emerson

[darkwing104]

Originally known as Decoration Day until 1882, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of America’s war-fighters who died in the service of our nation. The origin of the day is uncertain but it most likely started with Southern Ladies decorating the graves of fallen Confederate soldiers’ graves during the Civil War or the random organization of groups to honor the dead in several locations around the nation on both sides of the War. The Civil War tapped the need of decent people to honor their side’s dead as well as their loved ones who had fallen for their cause.

The first official proclamation establishing the day was from General John Logan on 5 May 1868 and was first observed on May 30, of that year, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The Northern states were the first to observe Memorial day on the last of Monday of May, Southern States honored their dead on separate days until the end of World War I. After the Great War, Memorial Day changed from a day to honor the fallen warriors of the Civil War to one of remembrance of all Americans who died fighting for our nation.

Flags

The placing of American Flags on the graves began with the Boy Scouts at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in 1951. Later the 3rd U.S. Infantry would place flags on the graves of the fallen at Arlington and maintain a constant vigilance to ensure the flags never falter. Nationally, American Flags will be raised and flown at half-mast till noon in remembrance and raised to full mast for the remainder of the day.

Traditional observance has diminished somewhat over the years

[darkwing104]

[blue-duncan]

Gen. MacArthur’s Farewell Speech to the Corps.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurthayeraward.html