"Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
 

 

Memorial Day is a patriotic holiday in the

Text Box: Taps Day is done Gone the sun From the Lakes From the hills From the sky. All is well, Safely rest. God is nigh. Fading light Dims the sight And a star Gems the sky, Gleaming bright From afar, Drawing nigh, Falls the night. Thanks and praise, For our days, Neath the sun, Neath the stars, Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh. ~~~~~ United States of America usually celebrated on the last Monday in May.

Soldier at Grave on Memorial DayIt is a celebration of remembrance for the brave service of men and women who gave their lives for their country. Originally, Memorial Day honored those who had died in the Civil War. Now, it honors those who died in the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.

Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971. We now, designate this day to remember loved ones who have passed on, as well as remembering our service men and women. Flowers and flags are placed on graves in remembrance of them. Parades and dedications of memorials usually are part of the day's activities. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, local marching bands, members of the armed service, fire departments, police departments, and fraternal orders often march in parades and attend ceremonies to commemorate the day.
Boy Scout Guard on Memorial Day
Waterloo, NY. is considered the birthplace of this holiday because the people of Waterloo were the first people to proclaim a day on May 5, 1866 to honor the soldiers who died in the Civil War. They closed their businesses and placed flowers and flags on the graves of their soldiers. Flags were flown at half-mast.
Color Guard on Memorial Day
Major General John A. Logan declared May 30, 1868 as a special day for honoring Union soldiers killed in battle. He was Commander in Chief of an organization of Union Civil War Veterans called the Grand Army of the Republic. They took charge of Memorial Day celebrations in the Northern States. The American Legion took over these duties after World War I.

Memorial Day should be observed:

·         by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

·         by visiting memorials.

·         by flying the US Flag at half-staff until noon.

·         by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).

·         by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.

·         by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans

 

      Main Page           Focus on MTs            Spotlight Cont.           Fun & Games            QA             BOS               Special Section