Let Us Remember........ 
Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. To many people, especially the nation's thousands of combat veterans, this day, which has a history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.
"Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain.
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am the morning hush.
I am the graceful rush
of beautiful birds in circling flight.
I am the star shine of the night.
I am the flowers that bloom.
I am in a quiet room.
I am the birds that sing.
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die."
~Mary Frye, Baltimore MD, Circa 1933
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30,1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:
The 30th of May, 1868, is designated 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 whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
During the first celebration of Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery.
This 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances of the day in several towns throughout America that had taken place in the three years since the Civil War. In fact, several Northern and Southern cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, Mississippi; Macon, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; and Carbondale, Illinois.
In 1966, the federal government, under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They chose Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—because the town had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.
By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. (Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans, living and dead, is celebrated each year on November 11.)
 Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.
Several Southern states continue to set aside a special day for honoring the Confederate dead, which is usually called Confederate Memorial Day:
- Mississippi: Last Monday in April
- Alabama: Fourth Monday in April
- Georgia: April 26
- North Carolina: May 10
- South Carolina: May 10
- Louisiana: June 3
- Tennessee (Confederate Decoration Day): June 3
- Texas (Confederate Heroes Day): January 19
- Virginia: Last Monday in May
Although Memorial Day is set aside to honor those that have fallen, I wanted to take a moment and thank each and every person who has served our country in both war and in peace, as well as those who are serving to protect our freedom now.
Probably the largest number of our FReeper Veterans are Vietnam Vets, and many of them didn't experience a heros' welcome, with parades and flags and banners, when they returned. I wish we could make it up to all of them.
 
One of the FReepers who served during Vietnam also had a twin brother who joined about the same time, but in different branches, and I thought it would be fun to show them as they looked in their respective uniforms thirty-something years ago. (I asked Dave to send me some pictures, but he didn't know how I planned to use them or that I was going to sketch them instead.)
Thank you, Diver Dave, U.S. Navy, and your twin brother, Don, U.S. Marine Corp. We salute you, and we are so glad you both came home to your families.
 
This song was written by Tom T. Hall in 1964, and recorded by Johnny Wright, husband of Country Music singer Kitty Wells. For all those who served in Vietnam,
and left behind loved ones, this song's for you. Thank you for going; thank you for fighting, thank you for enduring the Hell and the horror that was.....Vietnam.
GOODBYE MY DARLIN' HELLO VIETNAM
Kiss me goodbye and write me when you can.
Goodbye my darlin', hello Vietnam.
America has heard the bugle call,
And you know it involves us one and all.
A ship is waitin' at the dock,
America has trouble to be stopped.
We must stop Communism in that land,
or freedom will start slippin' through our hand.
I hope and pray someday the world will learn
That fires we don't put out will bigger burn.
We must save freedom now at any cost,
or someday our freedom will be lost.
Kiss me goodbye and write me when you can.
Goodbye my darlin' hello Vietnam
Click on the graphic for a tribute to many of FR's Veterans and Active Military.
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