Memorial Day…..a Day of Remembrance.
First of all, you need not confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. Because there is a clear difference. Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day is to pay tribute to those who died serving in our military. Those who gave the biggest sacrifice of all.
Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868. The head of the organization of Union Veterans, the Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj.Gen. John A. Logan declares that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30th. It is believed that the 30th of May was chosen because the flowers would be in bloom all over the country.
Veterans Day
This is a federal holiday that falls on November 11 and is designated as a day to honor all who have served in the military. Most do not know that Veterans Day actually began as Armistice Day, which was to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. The name was changed to Veterans Day which took place on June 1, 1954. Which on November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
The Red Poppy….a Symbol of Memorial Day…
In war-torn battlefields, the red field poppy was one of the first plants to grow. The wearing of poppies in honor of American’s dead is traditionally done on Memorial Day. The practice of wearing of poppies was inspired by the Poem in Flanders Fields, which was written in 1915 by Canadian soldier John McCrae
We will never forget it. We honor and thank you.
Memorial Day…..we will never really know their names. There are too many to count….too many tears shed. The loss of the lives of our heroes. The men and woman that signed their name-giving 100% of themselves to protect our country, our freedom, our lives. Not knowing that if by signing their name they would lose there lives. But so many did.
The world as we know it is advancing and growing with leaps and bounds. But the sad truth is that the wars have never changed. Innocent brave men and women make their way to the recruiting office and sign on the “dotted line.” So many do so because they have no other career path. So the military seems to be the only way to go. But if the truth is known….they were already brave…..brave to sign on the “dotted line.”
They did so without fear, without regret, and without any doubt. Little did they know, they were already heroes in the making.
My husband and I made the trip to Arlington National Cemetery in the fall of October 2017. You can feel the sadness of the loss of so many lives. The souls of the brave individuals that gave so much. You could feel a heaviness that surrounded the grounds. But most of all, you could feel a sense of pride knowing that these dear souls gave all that they had for me, my family, friends, and so many more that they never knew.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War 1 in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and in any weather by Tomb Guard Sentinels. Sentinels, all volunteers are considered to be of the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), headquartered at Fort Myer, Virginia.
The changing of the guards is a very humbling experience. But yet, it fills you with so much pride. Even though the entire process is outdoors….the silence is deafening….you can hear a pin drop.
I hold my head up high. Like so many others…..I’m Proud to be an American. I salute the innocent men and woman that so selflessly gave their lives for us….and this country. I honor and thank you.
Because of you….the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice…..our lives are ours to live freely…
Thank you.
—Brenda
xo
