National Day of Remembrance

Memorial Day is a day of national remembrance of those who have fallen in battle in defense of our nation, yet a new poll commissioned by the National WWII museum in New Orleans, suggests that 80% of Americans have little or no knowledge of the history or meaning of Memorial Day. The sacrifice of others who have paid the ultimate price that we might be free is too great for us to take for granted.

Today we honor “[1] those in past and present wars who have given their lives in the name of freedom and democracy, for they paid the ultimate price; [2] those deployed in harm's way bravely standing the post and fighting for freedom around the world, they are securing our liberties; [3] our Wounded Warriors, for they know all too well that to serve can often mean great personal sacrifice." (Gen. Robert W. Cone)

By proclamation of the President of the United States, flags should be flown at half-staff today from sunrise to noon, then raised to the top of the staff. The President also proclaimed 11:00am as a time for all Americans to unite in prayer. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/27/prayer-peace-memorial-day-2011).

Decoration Day

Memorial Day was initially called “Decoration Day” due to the practice of decorating gravesites of those fallen in battle. Decoration Day dates back to the Civil War when women placed flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers buried at Arlington.

Since the early 1950’s, the U.S. 3d Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the nation’s honor guard, has placed flags at each of the 285,000 gravesites in Arlington Cemetery on the Thursday before Memorial Day. They patrol the Cemetery 24 hours a day to ensure that all of the flags remain standing until Memorial Day.

Prelude to Memorial Day

"We cherish, too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led.
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies."

Moina Michael, "We Shall Keep the Faith"

(Reply to Lt Col John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields")