MemorialDay – Odd Stuffing

Memorial Day, the time for our nation to pay tribute to the members of our armed services who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

This year, I am very honored to have my mother, a military veteran and member of the American Legion Henry L. Danforth, VT Post 53, reading my Memorial Day post from last year along with the poem, In Flanders Field, during my hometown’s Memorial Day activities.

“In Flanders Fields” was written by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae in 1915 after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres during World War I. The poem, and the red poppies it mentions, has become important remembrance symbols throughout the world as nations honor their lost service members.

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”

There are numerous opportunities on Memorial Day to pay tribute to our fallen heroes. You can attend one of the many parades or other organized activities occurring in large cities and small towns across our nation. You can visit one of our nation’s 134 national cemeteries, a state veteran’s cemetery or a local cemetery and witness the flags posted at the graves of our veterans. You can pause at 3 p.m. local time for the National Moment of Remembrance, a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. However you choose to do so, I encourage you to include your family so they too can learn about and understand the sacrifices given by so many for our freedom.

For all of us who live free because of your service, we celebrate your memory, we honor your sacrifice, we thank you and we shall never forget.

Bob

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Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 30 this year and it is a time for all of us to look back and pay tribute to the members of our armed services who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it was a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. It is generally believed the date was chosen as flowers would be in bloom all across the country. Waterloo, New York is officially recognized as the birthplace of the ceremony on May 5, 1866; although many communities around the nation have the tradition dating back this far or further. Union and Confederate armies originally celebrated on separated days but later merged to honor all Americans who died in military service. The name Memorial Day was first used in 1882 but it was not official until 1967. In 1968 it was moved from May 30th to the last Monday in May, where it is celebrated today.

On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers those who have passed in service. At noon, their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

The federal three-day holiday weekend sees traditional observances in large cities and small towns with parades and bands. In the current day, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial beginning of summer and has become a time for sporting events, sales, picnics and barbeques with friends and family.

You may also notice veterans and others wearing small, artificial red flowers known as the Remembrance Poppy. Beginning in 1921 to commemorate those who died in war, it is still worn by many today. It is based on the field poppy, Papaver rhoeas, and inspired by a World War 1 poem entitled “In Flanders Field”.

Growing up in a small town with parents who both served in the U.S. military, traditional observances are near and dear to my heart. Our local cemetery, like most others around the country, had small American flags planted in front of each veteran’s headstone. We were there every year to see the flags, read the names and remember.

If you have never visited any of our 134 national cemeteries or a state veteran’s cemetery, I encourage you to do so. It is easy to not realize just how many of our men and women, our bothers and sisters, our fathers and mothers, our sons and daughters, have given their lives so we can live free. When you see the rows headstones and flags, it begins to sink in what the cost of freedom really is.

In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act. It encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. Please consider this in your plans for the Memorial Day.

For all of us who live free for your service, we celebrate your memory, we honor your sacrifice and we shall never forget.

Bob

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