Memorial Day Musing
I wrote the musing below about Memorial Day in 2002.
Memorial Day weekend is a holiday that has come and gone every year without much thought on my part.
I know Memorial Day is a time set aside to remember those who have died defending our freedom. And since no one close to me has died in war, Memorial Day to me has always been just another reason to have a day off from work. Unfortunately, those of us who were born after the struggle of World War II, too often take our freedom for granted.
This year I decided I wanted to know more about Memorial Day. I discovered that many localities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. The first official national proclamation of Memorial Day came on May 5, 1868, when General John Logan decreed its observance in General Order No. 11. Memorial Day was observed on the following May 30th, and people put flowers on the graves of those who had died in the Civil War. Memorial Day was originally called, Decoration Day. The South did not observe Memorial Day on May 30th. Instead they chose other days. After World War I the entire nation joined together to observe Memorial Day on May 30th. (http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html)
I mentioned earlier that no one close to me had died in war. And the more I thought about it, I could only remember knowing one person who had died in war.
Our next door neighbor in Mobile back in the mid 60's had a younger brother. I think his name was Joe, but perhaps my memory is incorrect. But I remember he would come over to visit his brother. I didn't know him well, but I remember him.
Joe went off to fight in Vietnam. This was in the early days before the Vietnam War had become so controversial. Joe was killed in that war, and I remember so vividly the grief of his family.
War is ugly. It is glorified by some, but war should always be the option of last resort. It is sometimes necessary, but always tragic to those who lose a son, or a brother, or a dad, or a husband, or a friend.
Joe and countless others have gone to fight for our freedom over the years. They left wanting to come home when their job was done. But so many never came home. Or they came home in a casket.
This year I am thankful for those have given their lives for our freedom. And I am thankful for those presently in our military who our willing to risk their lives for our freedom.
This year I have a glimpse of what Memorial Day is all about. For that I am thankful as well.
Memorial Day weekend is a holiday that has come and gone every year without much thought on my part.
I know Memorial Day is a time set aside to remember those who have died defending our freedom. And since no one close to me has died in war, Memorial Day to me has always been just another reason to have a day off from work. Unfortunately, those of us who were born after the struggle of World War II, too often take our freedom for granted.
This year I decided I wanted to know more about Memorial Day. I discovered that many localities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. The first official national proclamation of Memorial Day came on May 5, 1868, when General John Logan decreed its observance in General Order No. 11. Memorial Day was observed on the following May 30th, and people put flowers on the graves of those who had died in the Civil War. Memorial Day was originally called, Decoration Day. The South did not observe Memorial Day on May 30th. Instead they chose other days. After World War I the entire nation joined together to observe Memorial Day on May 30th. (http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html)
I mentioned earlier that no one close to me had died in war. And the more I thought about it, I could only remember knowing one person who had died in war.
Our next door neighbor in Mobile back in the mid 60's had a younger brother. I think his name was Joe, but perhaps my memory is incorrect. But I remember he would come over to visit his brother. I didn't know him well, but I remember him.
Joe went off to fight in Vietnam. This was in the early days before the Vietnam War had become so controversial. Joe was killed in that war, and I remember so vividly the grief of his family.
War is ugly. It is glorified by some, but war should always be the option of last resort. It is sometimes necessary, but always tragic to those who lose a son, or a brother, or a dad, or a husband, or a friend.
Joe and countless others have gone to fight for our freedom over the years. They left wanting to come home when their job was done. But so many never came home. Or they came home in a casket.
This year I am thankful for those have given their lives for our freedom. And I am thankful for those presently in our military who our willing to risk their lives for our freedom.
This year I have a glimpse of what Memorial Day is all about. For that I am thankful as well.