What this weekend is really about.

[Alleyyooper]

Yes many consider this the first long week end of summer and many have no clue how it came about.
 I have read where some say that LBJ made it official in 1966 and it was invented in some NY town. Well as a child I remember in the every early 1950's we packed up the car and drove to a cemetery near by where some of Dad's WWII buddies were buried, along with some who were recent of Korea. It was called decoration day back then. That is what we did plant flat after flat of flowers on veterans graves, from all the wars in this country to date. Of course we also planted flowers on or kin's graves too at that time.

 Years a go I was chairman of a local veterans group, I was given a poem by an unknown author to read at a cemetery gathering on that decoration day. I was unable to complete it since I was upset that so many just consider it a day for hot dogs and burgers on the grill and lots of other fun summer stuff.

 This is one similar that does have a author.

Come Visit My Grave ©
Written By James D. Rolfes
 I am a Veteran under the sod.
 I’m in good company, I’m up here with God.
 Come to my grave and visit me.
 I gave my life so you could be free.
 Today is Memorial Day throughout this great land.
 There’s Avenues of Flags, Parades and Bands.
 I can hear music, the firing squads and taps.
 Here come my comrades, the Legionnaires, the Blue caps.
 One of them just put a flag on my stone.
 Some day he’ll have one of his own.
 Some think of this day as just a day free of toil.
 While others are busy working the soil.
 They say they have plans, other things to do.
 Don’t put us aside as you would an old shoe.
 Come visit my grave in this cemetery so clean.
 This is what Memorial Day means.
 There are many of us lying in wake less sleep.
 In cemeteries of green and oceans of deep.
 It’s sad that for many who fought so brave.
 No one comes to visit their grave.
 They died so you could have one whole year free.
 Now can’t you save this one Day for me?
 There are soldiers, sailors, airmen up here.
 Who went into battle despite of their fear.
 I’ve been talking up here to all of those men.
 If they had to do it over, they’d do it again.
 Look, someone is coming to visit my grave.
 It’s my Family, for them my life I gave.
 My wife, I remember our last embrace.
 As I left the tears streamed down your face.
 I think you knew the day I was shipped out.
 I wouldn’t return, your life would be turned about.
 There’s my daughter that I used to hold.
 Can it be that you’re nearly twenty years old?
 Next month is to be your wedding day.
 I wish I could be there to give you away.
 My son’s here too, Dad’s little man.
 Always love your Country, do for it what you can.
 There is one thing that really did bother.
 Is seeing you grow up without the aid of your Father.
 I wish you could all hear me from up above.
 That’s a father’s best gift to his children is love.
 And what better way to prove my love to the end.
 Is that a man lay down his life for his friends.
 I see it’s time for you to go home.
 Your visit made it easier to remain here alone.
 Don’t cry honey, you look too sad.
 Our children are free, you should be so glad.
 Daughter, thanks for the bouquet so cute.
 Thank you son for that sharp salute.
 Come again, I forgot, you can’t hear me from up here.
 But I know you’ll come visit me again next year.
 I hope all veterans are treated this way.
 On this day to remember, Memorial Day.



 :\'(  Al

[Retroguy]

My folks always referred to it as Decoration Day too.  We went out to the cemeteries and put flowers in an urn located on the family plot for Dad's side of the family, then put flowers in a funnel-shaped tin vase with water on my Mom's fathers grave.  I've always considered it disrespectful to head off on the weekend without first giving thought & prayers for those who sacrificed time and lives for this country.  After giving some time to these considerations, one would behave a little better than some folks do also.  You can have fun but do it with some gratitude in the back of your mind.

[neillsayers]

I always tried to remind my kids on this weekend what it is about. For all the fine servicemen who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice, thank you very much.

[Bakersdozen]

Thanks for the poem, Alley.  I grew up hearing it called Decoration Day too.  I had a grandmother that was serious about the day.  She always planned on cutting her peony blooms to put in tin cans were wrapped in tin foil.  I can still hear her fussing about the peonies being too early.  I thought of her this year when my peonies bloomed 3 week ago.  That's very early.
At an old country cemetery,  my grandfather's sister planted peonies right on the graves of my great grandparents plus a few others.  I always assumed she did it so there would always be something pretty on Decoration Day for decades to come.

[rwlaw]

My grandmother always wanted her snowball bush blossoms for putting on the graves for Memorial Day and it was the same fussing if they were late or early. 
Also she donated my uncle's service flag to the local cemetery for display on Memorial Day (they had a memorial area for veterans), and woe be the person who was around if the flags had wrinkles in them. I still remember watching from the car as the sparks flew!

[lazy shooter]

Red Hill Cemetery is over in East Texas, some 200 miles from my home, and we won't be visiting there on Memorial Day this year.  We usually make the trip, but this year the end of school caught us in a bind due to some weather delays.  Our locals place flags and flowers on all of the veteran's graves, including the Civil War veterans.  We have five Confederate Veterans and one lonely Union Calvary Veteran interred in our country cemetery.  Our cemetery in one of those that kept together by a volunteer association.  We have memorial service there on the third Sunday of July and take up collections for the following year.  It is a well kept place, and by the way, if any of you can get your loved ones here the grave opening charge is fifty dollars, and if you don't have the money we will allow you into your final resting place for free. 

lazy

[riverbee]

it was decoration day alley......... my granny said so.............

sorry late to the thread.......

a history lesson (from THIS DAY IN HISTORY):

"1868
Civil War dead honored on Decoration Day
   
By proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, the first major Memorial Day observance is held to honor those who died “in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” Known to some as “Decoration Day,” mourners honored the Civil War dead by decorating their graves with flowers. On the first 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.

The 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances that had taken place in various locations in the three years since the end of the Civil War. In fact, several 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 B. 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 19th century, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day, and after World War I, observers began to honor the dead of all of America’s wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. It is customary for the president or vice president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. More than 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."

Confederate Memorial Day: from wiki:
"By the 20th century, competing Union and Confederate holiday traditions, celebrated on different days, had merged, and Memorial Day eventually extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service."

not sure about all, my family (and circle of friends has many veterans from civil war to present. most have passed or died serving our country, and some family members still living).

it may sound sorta out there.........but anytime i see someone in uniform........airport, store, a parking lot, a restaurant, wherever, and timing is right, i make a point (if appropriate) to approach that veteran, say hello, and shake their hand and thank them for their service to our country.  i can't tell you how many times a veteran appreciates acknowledgment of my small thank you. 

and thanks to all here who have served.......